By Salama A Salama With presidential elections around the corner, Egyptian politics are going through a new revival, one in which rising expectations alternate with recurring disappointment. Ahead, the future looks promising and yet it could be precarious, depending on the outcome of the presidential and parliamentary elections. Every step of the way, small changes matter. Every action taken by the executive and judicial authorities supervising the elections is closely watched, for the future of the entire nation is at stake. President Hosni Mubarak surprised everyone, perhaps even members of his own party, when he tabled a programme for political and constitutional reform in his recent speech. To mend the damage done by the botched amendment of Article 76, the president promised that -- once reappointed -- he would embark on another round of constitutional reforms, restructuring the powers of the president and reshaping the relationship between the presidency and the executive. The president promised to abolish emergency laws and create an electoral system where all parties have a chance to participate. The presidential promises beg the question: why did it take us a quarter of a century to figure this one out? Perhaps one should not mull over it too much. After all, it is better to have something at hand than nothing at all, and the president seems intent on opening the way to political and constitutional reform, on letting all political forces participate in decision- making. We should thank our opposition parties and other outspoken political forces in the country for the new dynamic that is obviously at work. The opposition has protested against the National Democratic Party's monopoly of political life. The opposition has insisted on full, rather than partial, real rather than cosmetic, reform. Through diligence and dedication, the opposition has pushed the envelop of freedom, and in doing so revitalised the country's political scene. The point of having multi-candidate elections is to raise the standards of democracy in this country, to offer guidance and example for the future. Some opposition parties and groups have decided to boycott the elections, which does not absolve them from responsibility for how things turn out. Those parties and forces still have ways of being useful and relevant, of influencing the course of events. For example, some parties are not fielding candidates for the presidency by way of protest, but they can give their members the green light to vote anyway. Voters having a say, even through not voting for a certain candidate, are still being useful. Reform is not over yet. Things will keep happening. Once reappointed, President Mubarak would hopefully continue the march for constitutional and political change. This country may have a long legacy of political lethargy, but it is rubbing the sleep out of its eyes.
