Mubarak Postpones Local Elections, Delays Democracy Reforms

Strategic Insights -

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has quietly approved a plan to postpone local elections by two years, sparking widespread criticism that he is reneging on his promise to promote democratic practices. The move is seen as an effort to maintain the governing National Democratic Party's grip on power and block the Muslim Brotherhood from promoting an independent candidate for president in 2011.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Egyptian president has postponed local elections by two years, contradicting his promise to promote democratic practices during his recent presidential campaign.
  • The move is widely seen as an effort to preserve the National Democratic Party's monopoly on power and block the Muslim Brotherhood from supporting an independent candidate for president in 2011.
  • The Muslim Brotherhood scathingly criticized the plan, calling it an attempt to ensure that President Mubarak's son, Gamal, does not face a strong challenger if he runs for president in 2011.
  • The parliamentary elections last year demonstrated that the secular parties were weak, and the governing party was losing support, leaving the Muslim Brotherhood as the only organized opposition.
  • The Muslim Brotherhood cannot field a candidate for president in the party's name due to its banned status, but it could support an independent candidate under a complex formula.
  • Mubarak's allies in the upper house of Parliament and in his party contend that the delay is a step toward greater democracy, but others point out that it will give the governing party time to regroup after the parliamentary elections.
  • Even within the governing party, there is skepticism about the argument that postponing the vote is about democratic reform, with some analysts suggesting that it is an attempt to maintain the party's grip on power.

Statistics:

  • 88 seats in Parliament are controlled by the Muslim Brotherhood, enough to field a candidate for president under the law.
  • 2 years: the delay in hosting local elections, originally scheduled for April.
  • 2011: the year in which President Mubarak's son, Gamal, is expected to run for president.
  • 41: the age of President Mubarak's son, Gamal, who was recently promoted to a leading role in the governing party.
  • 2010: the year in which the parliamentary elections were held, demonstrating the weak performance of secular parties and the governing party's loss of support.

Sources:

  • Michael Slackman (2010) "Egypt's Government Rejects Call for Reforms, President-elect Keeps Promises". New York Times.
  • Michael Slackman (2010) "Egypt's President Mubarak Announces Move to Restructure Government". The New York Times.
  • "The Arab Center for Independence of the Judiciary and the Legal Profession" (2010) "Egypt's Government: a Threat to Democracy".