Egypt braces for 1st free presidential poll
Source: Agencies |
March 11, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
EGYPT yesterday officially started the process of holding its first-ever free presidential elections, with the door opening for candidates to submit their applications.
Politicians from the era of deposed president Hosni Mubarak, former military officers, and moderate and hardline Islamists are expected to become the front-runners in a vote that is scheduled to start on May 23.
The elections follow decades of authoritarian rule, with all of the country's former presidents elevated from the ranks of the military and usually approved by referendum.
Mubarak, who was forced to step down last year after an 18-day mass uprising, was elected to his last term in 2005. Those were Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential elections, but they were widely rigged.
The country's ruling military council, which took over power after Mubarak's fall, has pledged to transfer power to elected civilian authorities after the name of the new president is announced on June 21.
The revolutionary youth movement that led the uprising, which performed poorly in the first post-revolution parliamentary elections that ended in January, is concerned the generals will keep their grip on power even after a new president is inaugurated.
Such worries escalated with recent media reports claiming the military generals ruling the country have negotiated with the Islamist bloc that holds the near-majority of seats in parliament to produce a "consensus president."
The Muslim Brotherhood, the most influential and organized political group, has denied the reports, but this has not quieted fears that the group would throw its massive backing behind a nominee approved by the generals, who would then presumably steamroller any other candidate.
Two of the top presidential hopefuls, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and former prime minister Lieutenant General Ahmed Shafiq, have warm ties with the generals.
Critics say the generals are looking for a president who will preserve their special privileges, mainly no civilian oversight on their budget, and to keep the chairmanship of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in the hands of a military man rather than a civilian.
The Muslim Brotherhood has not announced yet which of the candidates it will support.
Politicians from the era of deposed president Hosni Mubarak, former military officers, and moderate and hardline Islamists are expected to become the front-runners in a vote that is scheduled to start on May 23.
The elections follow decades of authoritarian rule, with all of the country's former presidents elevated from the ranks of the military and usually approved by referendum.
Mubarak, who was forced to step down last year after an 18-day mass uprising, was elected to his last term in 2005. Those were Egypt's first multi-candidate presidential elections, but they were widely rigged.
The country's ruling military council, which took over power after Mubarak's fall, has pledged to transfer power to elected civilian authorities after the name of the new president is announced on June 21.
The revolutionary youth movement that led the uprising, which performed poorly in the first post-revolution parliamentary elections that ended in January, is concerned the generals will keep their grip on power even after a new president is inaugurated.
Such worries escalated with recent media reports claiming the military generals ruling the country have negotiated with the Islamist bloc that holds the near-majority of seats in parliament to produce a "consensus president."
The Muslim Brotherhood, the most influential and organized political group, has denied the reports, but this has not quieted fears that the group would throw its massive backing behind a nominee approved by the generals, who would then presumably steamroller any other candidate.
Two of the top presidential hopefuls, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and former prime minister Lieutenant General Ahmed Shafiq, have warm ties with the generals.
Critics say the generals are looking for a president who will preserve their special privileges, mainly no civilian oversight on their budget, and to keep the chairmanship of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in the hands of a military man rather than a civilian.
The Muslim Brotherhood has not announced yet which of the candidates it will support.
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