BADRAWI IN AN A DIALOGUE WITH AL DOSTOUR: THE WEST “PREVENTED ANY CHANCE FOR US TO SURVIVE ECONOMICALLY”… AND THEY ALLOW ONLY FOR LOANS NOT DEVELOPMENT

I do not see the political work of the government.. I am afraid that there is no harmony among its members .. It is necessary to involve people.

Dollar crisis is a symptom of a disease that we neither produce nor export adequately. The economic challenges that exist now are enormous.

Dr. Hossam Badrawi, the political thinker, described the current political scene in Egypt as “confusing”, considering that this confusion «is normal after 6 years of January 25 Revolution and about 4 years of June 30 Revolution.»

Badrawi said in a dialogue with Al Dostour newspaper that when the countries of Eastern Europe separated from the Soviet Union, they took 5-10 years to return to stability stage. He pointed out that the current parliament had many positive points, but lacked presence of strong parties. It appears as a tool in the hands of the government.

• It has been 6 years full of events and two revolutions … How do see the current political scene in Egypt?

 

• All revolutions around the world are followed with turmoil then matters are settled. Afterwards, it goes back to normal legitimate path. A revolution in my point of view is getting out of legitimate framework to achieve goals. If the revolution succeeds, the regime will be accused and the revolutionists will be heroes. If the revolution fails, the regime will become more powerful and the revolutionists will become accused. Legitimacy is tied to the winner.

 

• Is it possible for the revolutionary situation to continue? Is it possible for the development process to go on in a revolutionary climate?

 

• Definitely no. There is no country that builds in a continuous revolutionary framework, but in a framework of legitimacy and law. Even if we take this and compare it with the past 6 years of chaos and confusion until the rule of Muslim Brotherhood and extremism, followed with building and stability stage that started with electing a new president in 2014. At that time, we will know why there is political confusion till now. All countries of Eastern Europe after separation from the Soviet Union took 5-10 years to return to the stage of stability. 6 years after 2011 and fewer years after the June 30, 2013 Revolution means that we are passing through the normal path and all are the right path phenomena. To stand on a platform that allows us to develop and grow, we should keep in mind some criteria. First, there is a Constitution that must be a reference to all institutions, there is separation of powers and balance of powers. A power may not prevail another.

 

The second criterion is very important. Egypt suffers economically for many reasons. One of these reasons is that the West has prevented any chance for us to survive economically. They allow for loans but do not for development. Today, I say that Egypt’s position with the West is better than it was. There is recognition from the West of the regime legitimacy. I think that we are going through a better way, but we are not ready for a better investment.

 

The security perspective must be changed to be in balance with our desire for freedom of people, freedom of movement and freedom of an investor. The balance I mean in security practice while preserving freedoms is really important and is directly related to changing security methods in investigation and using technology and training to limit suspicions to fewer people.

• What is your opinion in the current government performance?

• The government has an excellent opportunity as it has a plan called Egypt Vision 2030. I do not find it in a speech of the ministers or in any applications with the community. Political action requires that you talk with people, convince them and involve them to support you. However, I see the government political action is not sufficiently apparent. It may exist, but I do not see it!

I am afraid that there is no harmony among the government members; they should declare the state objective of creating job opportunities to people. We know that we need a million jobs a year. We should ask ourselves: Can we achieve investment sufficient to provide a million jobs? Creating the climate for foreign investment, creating job opportunities and satisfying people must be a priority to the government.. For example, if I, as a local investor and a good citizen, suffer, how much will a foreigner suffer?

• What is your opinion in the government efforts to attract foreign investments?

• Investment is based on the private sector. Hence, I admire it so much as it achieves profits, creates job opportunities and pays taxes. However, I think that people see the private sector as an enemy to the state. This is an economic side. The other side is that we currently know that the population problem in Egypt is vital. It is composed of three things: the number, the geographical spread and the quality. It is related to education, health and services. If we succeed in limiting factors of population growth, we will reach 150m by 2050. This increase requires energy, water, food and services. If I see that 6^th of October city took 40 years to reach a million people, then we must work from now to be ready for 2050 to accommodate the expected population increase. The New Administrative Capital is very good but is not enough.

 

• What is your comment on the latest Cabinet reshuffle?

• The latest Cabinet reshuffle in terms of persons, they are all very competent. Again, I say that Dr. Tarek Shawki in education uses the language of science and language of future. I feel optimistic that he is there. I wish people will be patient with him. Also, the Minister of Local Development who is a man who worked in technology and management. I think he will pave the way for decentralization. The Minister of Planning is also competent. However, the main issue is that does the government in this form perform its duties effectively? I hope that the Prime Minister will have specific deputies: one for service affairs, a second for human development affairs, a third for economic and financial affairs and a fourth for foreign relations, security, etc.

 

• Are the economic challenges the biggest crisis facing the government or are there bigger challenges?

 

• Of course there are other challenges. However, the economical ones are enormous. All what I mentioned is a result of unproductiveness within the country. The issue of the US dollar and the Egyptian pound is a symptom. The disease means that you do not produce or export enough, you don’t have domestic investment, and you don’t have investment that brings in hard currency. Prices may express your actual economic situation.

I think our biggest challenge is that there is no investment that can provide the state with resources enough to increase the number of job opportunities and can provide it with more taxes and hard currency sources, whether through tourism or exporting and money transferred by Egyptians working abroad. I wonder: is the country, to that extent, unable to get all of that through its banks?

Another challenge is that of population. It is a long-term challenge. The main challenge is the human development: education and culture. Without them both, everything collapses.

 

• Some see that the current parliament is in full “compliance” to the government.. How do you see it? What is your evaluation to its performance?

 

 

• The current parliament has advantages that we should mention. The number of women and Copts that has never happened, and the average age of youth are positive points, to include some. However, I see negative points. The political work needs strong parties. The parliament has no strong parties. There are no allied political powers that have a vision to impose on or discuss with the government. The coalitions in the parliament are not parties and do not substitute parties.

Lack of parties increases the interference of the executive authority. So, it appears to people that the parliament is a tool in the hand of the government.

 

As for the parliament performance, I have seen many laws have been passed too fast. I do not think there has been enough time to study them. May be I am wrong, but some laws have been passed without the competent minister’s approval, such as the Civil Associations Act. There are things in the parliament that I have never seen before: revocation of membership of a member just because of difference of opinion, meanwhile there are people that were judged to be members by the court but they did not enter the parliament. These are questions that come to a citizen’s mind while s/he watches the parliament from outside without knowing the details. I also do not know the details, but I wonder.

 

• How do you evaluate the relation between the parliament and the press, especially after the speaker of the parliament sued some journalists because of their articles?

• It is a very critical scene. Opinions mentioned in newspapers must be replied with opinions in newspapers. That what I know. If wrong news is stated, the journalist shall be punished for publishing false news. But when we disagree in opinion and we resort to courts, I do not see this suits a historical stage during which our country is rebuilt. I speak as a citizen watching from outside.

It is known to me that there should be a struggle between the government and the press, but not between the parliament and the press! This is new to me since the parliament represents people, the press is a part of the people and the executive authority must be observed by the parliament and the press. I think the reaction will be negative over the freedom of press. Everything affected investment more than we can imagine.

 

• What is your opinion in the role of political parties and the elite now? Did they become incapable of creating political cadres that can lead the political scene?

• Since 1952 up to date, no political party took over the majority in Egypt except for the party that belongs to the Republic President. This has been the fact and the culture for 60 years. The parties were complaining about their status during the ruling days of the Former President Hosni Mubarak saying that the ruling party was holding them back. Now there is no ruling party. However, there are no strong parties. The excuse was vanished. The reality is that the political climate in Egypt gives the executive authority the full power. People realize that they do not know how to make anything right without the help of the executive authority. Even a parliamentary delegate cannot do anything right in his electoral district without resorting to the executive authority. The political situation in Egypt will not bring out an opposition party; it will only bring out supporters of the executive authority.

 

• What about the political elite?

• The political elite, as well as the intellectual elite, are a part of the society. Political work is a teamwork that needs funding, organization and clear political objectives. The objective of any party is to have power. It is a matter in our country that is negatively seen as contradicting with the state. Then, the issue needs a bit political tolerance and a bit more intelligence.

 

• Many assure that there is a foreign conspiracy against Egypt…. What is your opinion in this?

• I will give you an example: If we develop a future plan in which you say I will fire 5 million citizens from the state and you replace them with technology and people with more knowledge, and this will take place in a legal frame that will provide them with a decent life, what will you call it, a plan or a conspiracy? Definitely, a plan. Also, for example in the USA, they decided there should not have been any power that might have competed Israel in the Middle East. This is a plan, not conspiracy; it is their interest and they declared it. To do so, they break down and divide the Arab World in order to strengthen Israel. This is what happens. That is what happened with Iraq which was occupied, with Syria which was divided and with Libya and Sudan using what is so-called moderate Islam or political radical Islam, etc. Egypt was on the same brink. I cannot call this conspiracy because it is a fact. But in Egypt, 30 million people went out and called upon the Armed Forces for saving from The Muslim Brotherhood. They have not recognized it for two or three years and blockaded it economically and politically. This scenario did not happen with Erdoğan because they have no problem with him. It is not a conspiracy; it is a clear matter. Egypt is the balance of the Middle East and the Arab World. I can give you a weapon but I will not allow you develop. I can a give you loans but I will not allow you to earn your own income.

 

• On the latest few days, delegations from Russia, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and some international stars visited Egypt … Can these visits have an impact on Egypt tourism revival?

 

• I see that these visits are a positive thing from the West to Egypt and recognition of the current state regime legitimacy. I think the West has dumped the idea that the Muslim Brotherhood is the alternative to the status quo. This is a positive matter as a result of diplomatic work from the state and openness from the President to the outside world. But again I say that getting benefit of all these comes from inside, by opening new doors and arranging for investment that will allow for a local and a foreign investor to grow and work, along with providing comprehensive care for these kind people [of the state] including education, health care, sewage, water, and limiting high prices.

There is a difference between managing wealth and managing poverty. If you manage the country, you will manage the wealth. I believe that Egypt is a very rich country. Then, you shall seek good life for all citizens.

 

• How do you see the steps taken by the government so as not to subsidize electricity and fuel?

• Regardless of the International Monetary Fund loan, the market should show reality. We all know that subsidy goes to brokers, not to citizens. Meanwhile, we have to confess that there is no justice in distributing burdens.

 

• What is your opinion in the government attitude towards education file in general?

• We have a new ministry and a new minister. Let us stand up for him, support him and give him the chance. I see he is competent enough to change the [educational] system to a better one.