Radical changes have been taking place in Egypt. After the approval of constitutional amendments on Saturday, parliamentary elections will likely occur soon. This calls back the debate over quotas previously allocated to women and farmers by law. According to law, 64 seats are devoted to Egyptian women, and two farmers should be elected from each precinct. The women's quota was introduced before November's parliamentary election, and the claims behind the change was that it advocated and guaranteed women's representation. Workers' and farmers' quotas were also made in the name of the integrity of those deprived classes within society. But it turns out that these quotas have been playing more roles in making the parliament unrepresentative. Workers and farmers were unable to tackle their issues efficiently as highly educated men would do. Some justify the motives of the regime behind these amendments is to integrate those to regime supporters under parliament dome, could be explained as a clear trial from an illegitimate regime to get wide acceptance among its citizens, trying to make its image better. The women's quota that was made in favor of women didn't help them in the political arena. It was the wrong message to send, implying that women are unable to obtain these seats inside the parliament and that they wouldn't be able to make it to the parliament at all without this quota backing them up. It also violates the term that assures both men and women are equal citizens. Therefore, these quotas are not really legitimate. Nonetheless Egypt has many pioneer women that are in no need of such guarantees. On the contrary, they are the ones who are required to introduce these guarantees to their voters to ensure they are efficient enough, and they could win thanks to their political participation and their efforts, nothing else. It was described that the regime while trying to help women, but it treats them like ‘handicaps' in being unable to get sufficient parliament seats. This term was used by the Egyptian writer Alaa El-Aswany who describes it best, calling for an end to the quotas. As for the farmers' quota, obviously did not pay off. It raises many concerns, such as, what can hinder illiterate men from wining in the parliament elections, as the constitution gives them the right to for just being farmers? What can differentiate between educated men who deserve to win and those uneducated who certainly don't? And if the constitution in its basic articles didn't discriminate between citizens implicitly, how is it that such a biased, discriminatory quota that gives some people privileges at the expense of others is still valid with no clear announcement till now that it will be cancelled? The Egyptian women themselves are refusing this quota that questions their abilities. They clearly want empowerment of women, and activating their roles in political life instead. They see it is crucial to give the representation of potential candidates applying for parliamentary round to who really deserve them, regardless of being a woman or a man. This will be reflected on the performance of the Egyptian parliament, spur it to more competitive level. And that's what we all seek as Egyptian people. Yet farmers and workers can yield more gains rather under the representation of sophisticated people. This is not to say that farmers are not welcomed in the Egyptian parliament, but to say efficient sophisticated farmers are more than welcomed, if they enjoy wide acceptance, and sufficient expertise. A clear statement concerning these quotas should come out. To put an end to unfair articles that persisted for so long, but to the contrary increased the number of seats devoted by these quotas over time. Putting an end to such quotas should be due now after the Egyptian revolution has already put an end to a deaf regime. A quick revision of these quotas is highly needed. BM
