Thoughts and Dangers by Hossam Badrawi

Thoughts and Dangers
By
Hossam Badrawi
The French parliament voted to withdraw confidence from Michel Barnier’s government in early December 2024, a major development that reflects the fragility of the political situation in Paris. This move came after widespread rejection of the 2025 budget bill, which included proposals to raise taxes and cut government spending to address the growing public deficit.
Moving to South Korea, the country witnessed a major political crisis on December 3, 2024 when President Yoon Suk-yeol declared martial law for the first time in more than 40 years. This move came in the context of a fierce dispute with the opposition over the state budget and allegations of conspiracy with North Korea. The president accused the opposition of conspiring against the state and sought to suspend political activities and abolish freedom of the press, sparking widespread protests in the country.
Despite the support of some military leaders for the measure, parliament opposed the move, holding an extraordinary session in which 190 deputies voted in favor of abolishing martial law. After hours of political confrontations and popular protests, the president backed down and accepted the parliament’s decision, announcing the lifting of martial law and the withdrawal of deployed forces.

This event reflects the importance of the separation of powers, as parliament played a crucial role in restoring balance in the country. At the same time, this incident highlights the dangers of the executive authority exploiting exceptional measures to achieve political gains.

I now return to the Syrian crisis and the fall of the Assad regime and the escape of him and all his aides outside the country, which has profound repercussions on the Middle East region, under a dictatorial regime that has not learned from the fates of the same model of governance throughout history.

History says that defending Egypt’s independence has always begun from the gate of the Levant, and reality says that a stable and strong Egypt internally is an influential Egypt externally.

Are we safe from the Zionist-Western plan that is unfortunately proceeding with confident steps to control the Arab countries economically and militarily and divide them????
((The answer is no….
Egypt will not be stable unless the political situation is stable, which leads to economic growth and social satisfaction in it. The strange thing is that the constitution clearly states this, and we do not apply its articles or its requirements..))
I mentioned three models of governance and repercussions that may contain wisdom and lessons to be learned to ward off evil from Egypt with a broad horizon and learn from the events of the present and the past ((and not fall into the trap of feeling safe by tightening the security grip.))
((We believe that the presidential system of government, in which the elected president assumes broad powers of governance, is the best system for Egypt. In fact, it has been the political reality since 1952, although we claim otherwise.

But this system leads to tyranny of power unless the term is limited to two terms at most, not exceeding twelve years. This is what the constitution emphasizes, and this is a constitutional choice that cannot be amended by any ruling authority in favor of its survival..))
As I wrote, announced, and insisted, in the civil state that we seek to establish, all its institutions are placed within the scope of accountability. The executive, supervisory and judicial authorities are balanced in it, so that no authority encroaches on another, and political alternatives are available that build and do not destroy. It is in everyone’s interest to have stable rule, but with controls and accountability.

Finally, I share with the reader the wisdom and examples and leave it to him to apply them to the circumstances.

Imam Muhammad Abduh, whose words indicate a deep political understanding, says: “Corruption descends from the top to the bottom, and reform ascends from the bottom to the top.”
((And I say that “criminal regimes were not created by criminals, but by enthusiastic people who are convinced that they have found the only correct and absolute path, while others are absolutely wrong.”
“Prison is not a fence and walls. You may be a prisoner of an idea, or you may be a prisoner of a moment in time. How many unjust rulers began their injustice when they thought they were the savior and had no alternative.”))
And Gibran says in his book The Prophet about freedom;
“If you have a tyrant before you whose throne you want to take, then first make sure that the throne you have built for him in your soul has been shattered; for can a tyrant rule the free or the honorable unless their freedom is tainted by tyranny, and their honor is tainted by shame?

And I say: Freedom does not come to us, but we must aspire to it and liberate ourselves from within ((from slavery to an unjust ruling system, or to ideas that possess our souls and are dictated to us by others.))

And I quote from Professor Said Nasheed, the Moroccan philosopher:

“We need someone to shake our firm convictions, because in this way he gives us the opportunity to test them, and thus the possibility of restoring them when necessary, so that they do not fall on our heads suddenly, or in the end.

Therefore, we must welcome the hammer-bearer in our home as a dear guest, not to reject him or close our door on him, for he is the person who will help us test the strength of our ceiling, which weakens with the time factor, and therefore needs renewed and sometimes radical repairs. Isn’t that parliamentary opposition and freedom of opinion!!!! I borrow Farag Foda’s words in an article he wrote decades ago: “The problem of democracy goes beyond the borders of Egypt to the entire Arab region, as the current situation in the Arab world seems to hand over the reins of many countries in the region to a vicious and frightening circle. It begins with military coups that fail to solve problems, and succeed in emptying society of civilian leaders who believe in legitimacy. It also succeeds, and this is the most important thing, in establishing concepts of wasting constitutional legitimacy, under vague slogans such as “revolutionary legitimacy” and “freedom for the people, and no freedom for the enemies of the people” ((and usually everyone discovers that what is meant by the people is the circle of government.))

Isn’t this what we have seen recently in Syria, and before that in Libya, Iraq and Sudan? This type of rule is the reason for the growth and expansion of religious political movements, which have a long tradition of secret work and growth under the framework of illegitimacy. Here, the vicious circle begins its terrifying cycle. In the absence of civil opposition and a parliament independent of the executive authority, any rule will lead to religious authority. ((And religious authority will not be removed from its positions except by a military coup, which in turn hands over matters, after a long or short period of time, to a new religious basket, and so on.))
Getting out of this vicious circle is a necessity..and communicating with constitutional legitimacy is a vital issue ((for Egypt and legitimacy.))
We tell ourselves that Egypt is greater than that, and the genes of civilization in the Egyptian people appear in crises, and June 30 was one of its manifestations.
Despite my constant optimism and my vision of opportunities among hardships and my initial confidence in people’s orientations, this does not prevent me from analyzing matters carefully and seeing the risks. ((One of the masterpieces I have read, and I share it with the reader, is the introduction of Ibn Khaldun, the pioneer of Arab sociology, which he wrote in the fourteenth century AD, and made me scrutinize what we are going through, as he says in it:

“When taxation increases, the state is on the verge of collapse, and when nations begin to collapse, astrologers, beggars, hypocrites, pretenders, drummers, flatterers, satirists, and opportunists increase.
“Masks are revealed, what should not be mixed is mixed, assessment is lost, management is bad, meanings and words are mixed, and truth is mixed with lies..”
“When nations collapse, terror prevails, people take refuge in sects, wonders appear, rumors spread, friends turn into enemies, and enemies into friends, the voice of falsehood rises, the voice of truth fails, and faces appear on the surface “Suspicious.. and friendly faces disappear”..
“When countries begin to collapse, dreams become scarce and hope dies.. and the alienation of the wise increases and the voice of the wise is lost in the noise of the preachers.. and the bidding on belonging.”
“When countries collapse, the people of one house throw accusations of treason and betrayal.. and rumors spread about a large escape.. and intrigues and conspiracies are hatched.. and advice increases from the far and near, the wise and the foolish. The powerful contemplate their departure and the rich contemplate their wealth.. and everyone becomes on alert and waiting..
and the situation turns into immigrant projects..
and the homeland turns into a travel station..”
By God, these are the words of Ibn Khaldun and not my words, as if he was spying on the future seven hundred years ago..

The opportunity is available in the next five years to bring about a fundamental change in political life in Egypt, and to fill the political vacuum with civil alternatives, which will not happen if things remain as they are..))
The upcoming parliamentary elections are a test of the validity of the executive authority in Egypt and this parliament must truly represent the people and have an opposition that holds accountable, scrutinizes and legislates to build, not destroy. Egypt deserves this and is qualified for it, if you only knew.