Egypt, S.Arabia step up trade ties through coordination council talks    Egypt reviews progress on $200m World Bank-funded waste management hub    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    SCZONE, Tokyo Metropolitan Government sign MoU on green hydrogen cooperation    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Opposition coalition moves to abandon boycott
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 14 - 09 - 2010

The leadership of the four-party opposition coalition (comprised of the Nasserite Party, Tagammu, Wafd and Democratic Front parties), says a boycott of the upcoming parliamentary elections will be ineffective in pressuring the Egyptian government to implement fair elections.
Nabil Zaki, Tagammu Party official spokesperson, said his party will announce its stance on the elections after the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) gives its response to demands for guarantees on election integrity, and after the Wafd Party general assembly, scheduled to meet on 17 September, makes its decision.
The Tagammu secretariat general will also meet to review other parties' decisions, according to Zaki, who indicated that the number of those who agree to participate in the elections is more important than the number of opponents.
Zaki said he does not expect to receive a response from the NDP over integrity guarantees demanded by the opposition coalition, which called for reforming the electoral commission to increase the number of judges and enhance their role in supervising the electoral process.
Mohamed Abul Ela, vice-chief of the Nasserite Party, said boycotting the elections would not be beneficial even if the opposition coalition agrees to a boycott. If 20 of Egypt's 24 political parties take part, for example, said Abul Ela, boycotting would be in vain. He added that the Nasserite Party has already decided to participate and is currently choosing candidates.
Mohamed Sarhan, vice-chief of the Wafd Party, agreed boycotting elections would not be beneficial so long as other parties announce their intention to participate. Sarhan said he expected the Wafd Party to stand in the elections.
Amr al-Shobaki, researcher at Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies, said that in 1990 boycotting elections proved ineffective. He described two trends that emerged in 2004. The first, among parties, was the idea that political reform should take place from within the political process. The second trend is a refusal by opposition movements such as Kefaya to participate, preferring change from outside.
Al-Shobaki explained that the opposition coalition's approach of waiting for an NDP response to their demands for election integrity is manifestation of the general responsive policy to NDP action. He reiterated that the NDP response will not guarantee truly fair elections, adding that he expects this election to be "the worst in Egyptian history."
Translated from the Arabic Edition.


Clic here to read the story from its source.