SO far, there is wide consensus that the overall performance of Egypt's political parties has been disappointing. But the results of the latest elections has given a new spirit to the Wafd Party, which traces its roots to an unofficial delegation that lobbied for independence from Britain in 1919. The fair and transparent elections have breathed new life into Al-Wafd Party, which was beset by internal disputes and power struggles that had left it stuck in the doldrums for years. The polls, in which el-Sayyed el-Badawi won as the party's new chairman, ended in a peaceful transfer of power from one leader to another. Touchingly, the winner and the loser shook hands. This indicated el-Badawi and Mahmoud Abaza's deep understanding of the political game and the meaning of true democracy. The elections in Al-Wafd Party, which leave us amazed and optimistic, raise a number of questions pushing the leaders of other parties in a state of crisis, as they always claim that the Government restricts their activities and contacts with the masses. So, whatever has happened to the Wafd Party? The true spirit of fraternity is rife among the party's members, who are now listening to the voices of reason, objectivity, fairness and transparency. Al-Wafd's polls, held on May 28, were very fair. They came as a concrete proof that the Egyptians can practise and enjoy the democracy which they fully deserve. Al Wafd, which has enjoyed a long history of liberalism, has undergone a truly democratic, civilised and even ‘superior' experience that should serve as a shining example to be followed by the other opposition parties in Egypt. These polls send a clear message to the leaders of these other political parties: “If you want democracy, then start with yourselves. The road to democracy is very long and it is you who ought to take the first steps along that road.” Many leaders of opposition parties have been calling for democratic reforms and forgotten themselves in the process, practising every kind of dictatorship and despotism on their own members. In the meantime, the same leaders, most of whom have been occupying their seats for many years, have failed to impose democracy on themselves or their party members, as they mistakenly believe that democracy will be served up for them on a silver plate. The Wafd polls have set an ideal and honourable example of democracy that can be considered a starting point for correcting what has gone wrong in Egyptian political life. They embody many good values that have in practice been lost by many opposition parties. One hopes that the same spirit which permeated the Wafd elections will rub off on the newspapers run by opposition political parties, which lack objectivity, transparency and fairness when dealing with their opponents. They make baseless accusations against these opponents, damaging their integrity and reputation without proof or evidence, for the sole purpose of winning a false glory, or making gains. The Wafd experience is a serious step in the right direction, which all Egyptian parties and newspapers should learn from. Abiding by the principles of neutrality and transparency would lead to a fair and honest competition among the political parties. This would reflect positively on the Government and independent newspapers, which have to upgrade themselves and their tools, in order to attain the highest levels of objectivity and professionalism. Hashem is the Board Chairman of Al-Tahrir Press House.
