On the café “Dreamers of Tomorrow” Hope for a New Beginning By Hossam Badrawi

On the café “Dreamers of Tomorrow”

 

Hope for a New Beginning

By Hossam Badrawi

 

The reason for writing this article is the conclusion of the presidential elections and the announcement of the upcoming parliamentary elections, which will shape life in Egypt for the next six years.

 

The question is, will we continue on the same path we have been following in the past years, or will we have the will to change the political and economic conditions and open up space for hope?

 

Can the call of president for national dialogue  addressing the economic crisis yield results? The economy needs experts and specialists, not just public opinion. The people have expressed their protest and anger at the rising cost of living, and it is up to the experts to propose solutions and for governments to implement them. I believe that the solutions are available, but they are simply not being implemented.

 

Everyone knows that we are in an economic crisis, and we should not ask  those who caused the crisis to solve it, because they will lead us to the same results again.

 

We observed the presidential elections and wondered when democracy can be implemented in Egypt and how it can be implemented.

 

I asked a group of young people, “What do you see in the presidential elections, their results, and the method by which they were conducted? What do you suggest to change course so that we do not repeat the same mistakes?”

 

A young woman from the Faculty of Political Science said, “It confuses me, Doctor, that in the past we used the referendum  system of voting for the president,only one candidate & citizen says yes or no.  System  which we changed with hopes and joy  to  choose between competing candidates in 2005,  which we considered a democratic step forward,  for more democracy  but it turns out to be a step backward.”

 

I asked her, “What do you mean?”

 

She said, “In the referendum, the candidate needs the approval of the majority to assume the position, while in competitive elections, they only need to win over the competitors. So, if the competitors are mere figuresand the selection of competitors is controlled, the competitive system loses its effectiveness. In this case, the referendum may be more democratic, as it gives citizens the right to reject the candidate in theory, which does not happen in the competitive system.”

 

I smiled and told her, “That’s a valid perspective. In some electoral systems, as far as I know, like in India, there is a mix between the two systems, where citizens are offered the choice to select from competing candidates and they have the right to reject them all if this choice exceeds 50%, then new elections are held.”

 

But the most important thing, my dear, is the society’s trust in the integrity of the elections. In any case, no ruling system should hinder individual or party alternatives from freely communicating with the people within the limits of the law, nor should it restrict freedom of expression and criticism as long as it builds and does not destroy.

 

We must recognize the risks of implementing democracy in an unstable climate or in the absence of the ability to choose due to ignorance or poverty, or both at the same time.

 

Another young man said, “Does that mean that democracy is only for the elite & educated?”

I said: “I don’t mean that, and the People’s Representative Councils(Parliament) may be more important than we think, as it should have specific roles for each of the two chambers, where the first benefits in representing everyone along with local councils, and the second benefits in representing wisdom, knowledge, and setting legislative controls that prevent the fluctuation of legislation or rushing to satisfy the public regardless of the country’s interests and future, for the benefit of those who benefit from maintaining the situation as it is or electoral interests only.

 

Also, we must realize that what precedes elections in terms of directing public opinion, especially if it is not fortified with knowledge and awareness, and attracting, intimidating, or threatening it, affects the election results. Additionally, the use of political money in determining the course of choices in a society where the poverty rate exceeds 30% adds to its strength.

 

As for what follows the elections, respect for freedoms, the constitution, the law, and the balance of power, as well as exposure to accountability, are essential aspects in the application of democracy. The issue is not just the election box.

 

And perhaps, as I recall, I would like to point out that anyone who reaches power in a country not accustomed to democracy is inclined to believe that their presence is the sole guarantee of the country’s safety and stability. They live under the illusion that they are the only one around whom the state coheres, and the state apparatus and directed media compete to deepen this feeling within them and among a large sector of the masses.

 

I heard this with my own ears in a conversation with President Mubarak, who told me that his exit from power would either mean the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood or the military taking over all powers. And the truth is, I do not doubt the patriotism of any of Egypt’s former rulers, but staying in power without a clear term deepens this idea and solidifies it in the conscience.

 

Another young man said: Is this a special situation for Egypt only?

 

I said: No, it is a general situation, and in this case that has occurred and can be repeated in Egypt and in other countries that are transitioning to democratic systems, the most important question we must ask is: Where does the protective deterrent lie that ensures the integrity, stability, and sustainability of democracy? And how can it be implemented in our country?”

In the West, traditions have deep roots in protecting individual self-independence, rights, and dignity from coercion, regardless of whether it comes from the state, the church, or even the majority of society. This framework protects the rights of minorities and freedoms because it is based on a combination of democracy, freedom, and order.

 

As for us, these self-evident principles are still unstable within an educational and cultural system that does not foster this orientation, nor does it make it stable in the social consciousness.

 

We do not have a clear institutional framework that prevents anyone who sits in the seat of power, even if they come with a free and fair popular will or any government that comes within a genuine parliamentary majority, from transitioning to authoritarianism with freedoms and remaining in power under the pretext of the public interest and stability within a particular ideological framework or fear of chaos or the convergence of local, regional, or international interests or a religious framework that imposes a specific culture on society and prevents pluralism and citizenship.

 

I remind everyone that the constitution, the supreme law, exists to regulate life in the state, and its role becomes greater and more important in moments of dispute and revolutions, during which the most organised, powerful, and well-funded group comes to power. However, we have become accustomed, in such moments, to discard the constitution and nullify it, and the fate of the nation is left in the hands of those who control the affairs at that historical moment.

 

When I tried to achieve this in 2011 by demanding respect for the constitution and realising the demands of the people within the framework of constitutional legitimacy, through the president relinquishing power and holding early free elections for a new government, I did not succeed, and I still believe that the path of legitimacy would have saved the country a high price paid from chaos, institutional collapse, rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, followed by military rule and the flight of investment, starting anew as if we were a fledgling state or no state at all.

 

It is true that freedom is the guarantor, but it is not represented by chaos, but rather by a certain degree of order. Freedom needs guiding principles and sometimes restrictions. The true security of freedom depends on the strength of certain protective barriers that safeguard it, and this is what has emerged through the accumulation of years in Western liberal democracy, which is something that we cannot wait long for in our country.

 

The young man said, “The situation, therefore, is perplexing, as traditional democracy cannot achieve the benefit we expect!”

 

I said, “Our country needs strong governance, otherwise, the state institutions will collapse, and development will come to a halt. The presidential system may be the closest to the culture of Egyptian society and the needs of Egypt. It is a system that grants the president broad powers to achieve defined goals and commits to them.”

The educated young woman said, “What guarantees that we won’t transition to a dictatorship if that happens?”

 

I said, “One important thing is to respect maximum of  2 terms presidential  constitutional article to  ensure a peaceful transfer of power. This guarantees the sustainability of development and the accumulation of experience.”

 

Another young man said, “The question remains, when and how will democracy be implemented?”

 

I said, “Each historical moment has its own men. I hope President Sisi who had an exception to rule  a third term   understands that just as he was a hero standing with the people of Egypt  in liberating the country from religious dictatorship, that  was possible for  to continue for a century, he can  be the pivot  for  transferring power institutionally , to  civilian-ruling  that enables development and prevents chaos, it will be what history remembers as his achievements, ensuring their continuity and accumulation, and protecting Egypt’s future.”