An Arab parliament

By Naguib Mahfouz

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At the recent Arab summit in Algiers, a proposal was tabled for the creation of an Arab parliament, along the lines of the European Parliament. But, in order for this parliament to be useful, it needs to speak on behalf of the Pan-Arab nation, not individual Arab states.

Arab countries have their own individual institutions. They also have the Pan-Arab body -- the Arab League, which is a motley collection of states. But, Arab nation in its entirety, does not have a people-based institution of its own. In Europe, the governments are democratically elected and can be trusted to do what their people want. In the Arab world, the majority of Arab governments are not democratically elected.

For the proposed Arab parliament to be truly representative of the Arab people, it has to be composed of popularly elected parliamentarians in every Arab country. The parliament must be allowed to monitor the actions of Arab governments and the work of the Arab League.

For the parliament to turn into a Pan-Arab legislative body with teeth, the Arab League will have to submit its decisions to the parliament for approval. For Arabs, people's power might at last be at hand.

Based on an interview by Mohamed Salmawy.