Egypt election: High on scepticism
Kareem, a 22-year-old medical student in Cairo University has reasons to celebrate - Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential election is over.
aljazeera.net: "The election circus, the noise, the rhetoric, the mediocrity of all the candidates have come to an end and I'm relieved," he said.
"[President Hosni] Mubarak's giant billboards and posters that have multiplied over the past month for the election campaign will be removed in days - I hope."
Kareem, the son of an upper-middle class family residing in Cairo's Heliopolis district, considers himself part of Egypt's silent majority. He said that neither he nor his family and friends voted in Wednesday's election.
"Mubarak will win, everybody knows that," Kareem said. "They (the authorities) just want to perfect the charade and give Mubarak the percentage he wants, decide how much voter turnout should be made public and give each candidate the percentage they feel they deserve. What actually went into the ballot box is irrelevant. Why should I even bother voting?" Read more
db: The other candidates are mostly unknown deadbeats, and the leading body of opposition - the Muslim Brotherhood - is banned from participation and all overt political activity [yes, it's brilliant I know]. So where is the democracy? It's a neocon dream. The early reports of 'fixing' in the already flawed and discredited processs - to ensure Mubarak has got the right numbers - will not deter Bush and co from hawking it as another step forward in the march of freedom. It might even get it's own color-code.
Founded in 1928, the group is a main force behind the increasing "Islamization" of Egypt. Officially banned in 1954, it renounced violence in the 1970's, but the government continues to treat it with suspicion, tightening or relaxing its grip as needed.
There are no credible figures of Brotherhood members and sympathizers, but political analysts estimate it has support from hundreds of thousands.
They offer an array of theories as to why the Brotherhood has managed to thrive in a restrictive political atmosphere: Its mix of religion and politics appeals to a wide audience, and its elaborate network of social services win it supporters. In addition, the Brotherhood's internal discipline and political savvy in dealing with authorities serve as survival mechanisms.
aljazeera.net: "The election circus, the noise, the rhetoric, the mediocrity of all the candidates have come to an end and I'm relieved," he said.
"[President Hosni] Mubarak's giant billboards and posters that have multiplied over the past month for the election campaign will be removed in days - I hope."
Kareem, the son of an upper-middle class family residing in Cairo's Heliopolis district, considers himself part of Egypt's silent majority. He said that neither he nor his family and friends voted in Wednesday's election.
"Mubarak will win, everybody knows that," Kareem said. "They (the authorities) just want to perfect the charade and give Mubarak the percentage he wants, decide how much voter turnout should be made public and give each candidate the percentage they feel they deserve. What actually went into the ballot box is irrelevant. Why should I even bother voting?" Read more
db: The other candidates are mostly unknown deadbeats, and the leading body of opposition - the Muslim Brotherhood - is banned from participation and all overt political activity [yes, it's brilliant I know]. So where is the democracy? It's a neocon dream. The early reports of 'fixing' in the already flawed and discredited processs - to ensure Mubarak has got the right numbers - will not deter Bush and co from hawking it as another step forward in the march of freedom. It might even get it's own color-code.
Founded in 1928, the group is a main force behind the increasing "Islamization" of Egypt. Officially banned in 1954, it renounced violence in the 1970's, but the government continues to treat it with suspicion, tightening or relaxing its grip as needed.
There are no credible figures of Brotherhood members and sympathizers, but political analysts estimate it has support from hundreds of thousands.
They offer an array of theories as to why the Brotherhood has managed to thrive in a restrictive political atmosphere: Its mix of religion and politics appeals to a wide audience, and its elaborate network of social services win it supporters. In addition, the Brotherhood's internal discipline and political savvy in dealing with authorities serve as survival mechanisms.
posted by exoplanet at 2:06 AM
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