Egypt’s Parliamentary Elections; a Step Backward

A comparison between Egypt’s 2005 parliamentary elections and the recent controversial polls in the Land of Pharaohs might be insightful in gaining a clear picture of Egypt’s presidential election scheduled for 2011. The previous parliamentary elections were held against a backdrop of a liberalized political atmosphere –which ultimately secured Husni Mubarak’s grip on power- and were not yet restricted by the 2007 ruse of the Egyptian regime –when independent jurists in charge of monitoring the elections were ousted by the government. Taking advantage of political freedoms, Ikhwan-ul-Muslemin, the Muslim Brotherhood, sent 88 representatives, under the “independent” moniker, to the Egyptian parliament. In the latest elections, however, the Muslim Brotherhood adopted a new tactic: wanting to elevate its social and political state while keeping its incumbent lawmakers in parliament, the Islamist party introduced nominees in a slate in its own name.

On the other hand, former IAEA chief and presidential hopeful Mohammad ElBaradei’s National Front and the Kefaya Movement boycotted the elections, believing that with the existing mechanisms and the relatively free atmosphere of 2005 being non-existent, the results would be predetermined. The ruling National Democratic Party’s crackdown lent credence to the claims of the boycotting parties.

Although in most constituencies a second round of elections will be held to determine who will be the representatives, chances of victories by independent and opposition nominees are grim. The present strategy of the ruling party is to marginalize its opponents, and keep its hold on power as much as possible until it finds the best solution for the next presidential election. Intimidation of electoral rivals and brushing off of their campaigns is not, however, something that will remain hidden from the eyes of the Egyptian citizens. The failure of this policy has already been proven despite the media power of Mubarak’s team. Post-election unrest in Egypt is self-explanatory with respect to the consequences of the ruling party’s policies.

Hojjat-ol-Llah Joudaki is a history researcher and Egypt affairs’ expert.