In his TV program "Cairo today" last Tuesday, prominent media man Amr Adeeb interviewed Wafdist MP Mohamed Mustafa Sherdi to talk about the parliamentary elections. For more than an hour, the two men mocked the electoral system and reviewed the difficulties faced by candidates, who have to spend a lot on electoral campaigns, mobilize supporters, wander streets and cafes, search for delegates to represent them in voting and counting committees, deal with the brokers of votes, and pay a lot to feed the army of the voters. Adeeb and Sherdi also talked about the benefits gained by the candidates when they became MPs!
The viewers made telephone calls and competed with the "duet" in mocking the parliamentary elections and the "scarecrow councils". They bitterly mocked everything; the state, officials, political parties and their leaders and the people. After that, I heard a noise in the street. When I peered from the balcony of the house, I saw a huge demonstration led by Adeeb, who was carried by Sherdi. They chanted: "No for elections…No for democracy... We want a free dictatorship!"
I have no doubt that the interview aimed to criticize the negative aspects of electoral systems in general, especially in Egypt. However, "mockery" led the two men to call for the hell of dictatorship. Adeeb and Sherdi said elections are ridiculous, democracy is a farce, and MPs do their best to achieve their personal goals; paying no attention to the voters' demands. Therefore, the question now is: Why should we – the Egyptian viewers – take part in elections? And if we participate, why should we not seek our personal goals and call for LE 50, for example, to give our votes? Why do we – the Arab viewers – watch "Cairo today" or other similar TV programs, which sympathize with the reformists in the Arab countries? Although these countries have no constitutions or parliaments or elections, they call on Egypt to draft a constitution governing the relationship between people and rulers, recognizing the right of nomination and election and issuing laws governing elections!
This does not mean that the program's criticism of the electoral systems in general and the Egyptian system in particular, is inaccurate. The negatives of the democratic tools, including the electoral system, partisan plurality, and the theory of separation of powers were, and still are, a subject of long debate between philosophers, theorists and politicians. Such a debate took place between those who call for the dictatorship of the philosophers, supported the dictatorship of clergymen, led their nations to the dictatorship of the proletariat, and those who raised the slogan of "honorary representation" and "partisanship is treason". This historical debate resulted in the undeniable fact that the electoral system, which is based on the partisan plurality – in spite of its countless disadvantages – is the best to ensure people's participation in the electoral process, the formulation of laws governing their rights and duties, and to control the rulers' performance!
If Adeeb and Sherdi had a clear goal, they would discover the fact that many shortcomings of the current electoral system were caused by the fact that 75% of the Egyptian eligible voters are not members in political parties. Nor do they participate in the electoral process. In addition, they do not have political awareness, or interest in public affairs. However, 90% of them follow all football matches and have full awareness of football laws. This opens the door to the administrative interference and manipulation of elections.
If the two men had a clear vision, they would contribute in motivating people to exercise their electoral rights, and forming a public opinion to call for amending the electoral system. This would ensure a wider representation for people and put a stop the manipulation of the voters' will. Elections should be held in accordance with the unconditional system of proportional representation.
The culture of mockery and "political comments" controlled Adeeb, Sherdi and other guests and presenters of similar programs. Therefore, the program ended by a demonstration by Sherdi and Adeeb, who shouted: "We want free dictatorship…situations became difficult." In fact, if this slogan was adopted, Sherdi and Adeeb would be its first victims!
