CARIO: The American University in Cairo (AUC) has organized the first “Behind the Headlines” media roundtable talks, in which a panel of scholars discussed the prospects and challenges of Egypt's first post-revolution parliament. AUC scholar Samer Soliman; associate professor of political economy and member of the Egyptian Democratic Social Party, Rabab El Mahdi, assistant professor of political science, and Amr Hamzawy; professor of public policy and administration and member of the Egyptian parliament, all participated in the panel in the AUC's Tahrir Square campus in Cairo. The scholars discussed potential alliances, and the priorities and role of the newly elected body. “It [the parliament] doesn't represent Egypt's political map that well. Women are only represented by one percent and the Copts constitute only one percent of the parliament,” said Soliman, reflecting on the country's social representation in the parliament, which will be 75 percent controlled by the Islamist Freedom and Justice and al-Nour parties. The talks also focused on the role of the military in the Egyptian politics, moving forward after a period of military control since the ousting of the former Hosni Mubarak regime last February. “The military institution has been, since the 1952 revolution, a country within the country, which is incompatible with the simplest rules of the democratic political system,” commented El Mahdi, foreseeing the army as a large challenge facing the autonomy of the parliament. Hamzawi went on to express concern over a lack of a moderate political party in Egypt's political sphere, citing also a lack of political professionalism. AUC alumna Randa Abul Azm, the Cairo Bureau Chief for Al Arabiya Channel, moderated the discussion. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/zZLTo Tags: Amr Hamzawy, AUC, Egypt parliament, Rabab El Mahdi, Samer Soliman, SCAF Section: Egypt, Latest News
