Egyptian Poll - Implications

At long last, the first democratic electoral polls in Egypt churned out a lead for the Islamic parties of the country. Nearly 40% of the electorate have voted for the Muslim Brother Hood. On the other-hand the liberal and progressive faction, that had catalyzed the ousting of President Hosni Sayyid Mubarak from office, had only a little over 13% votes come their way. For the liberals, their remarkable success as the moderators of the people’s revolution, across the length and breadth of the country, do not seem to have reflected in the vote-banks as well. When it came to governance of the country, the Egyptians seem to prefer an orthodox, Islamic rule over any other. This is not entirely a surprise.

Initially estimated high turn-out in the elections of about 70% was not realized, but considering the first election after a authoritarian regime, the apparently smooth process, with a more than 52% participation (varying data of 62% also reported) is be applauded. The political consciousness that propels the dormant vote to seek out its civil rights in the form of an electoral poll is no mean achievement and so soon after contending against dictatorship. But political and social awareness makes an electorate wield power that can propel the country, in the context of the neighborhood of the world, move forward.

Till now it is the Muslim Brotherhood- that is giving out its first media bites in assurances against any drastic Islamic codes in governance of Egypt. It is vouching the protection of the rights and values of its Christian minority population too. It cannot be overlooked by political observers that about 28% vote of Egyptians have gone to the extremist Islamic Nour party, that espoused to a governance similar to the Saudi Arabia, where sexual discrimination in the form of Burkaah or Purdah (Veil) would have been enforced had they secured power. Neither is the mathematics of number to be ignored. One in every four Egyptians (28%) want to tread the road to an orthodox, conservative government – with women held in virtual social captivity, with educational horizons being limited within the sanctioned Islamic teachings only and so on. While Muslim Brotherhood at present vouches not to tread the conservative path, they do not deny they would be guided by the ‘Sharia law’, in a ‘fair way, respecting human and individual rights.’ But how the pressure of the one-fourth of population, that is conservative Islamic in mind-set, builds up on the policy makers in Egypt is to be waited and watched.

Israel being the nearest neighbor seems to be wary of the situation in Egypt. If Israel warms up to the need for more armament, Iran would wake up to action too. Pakisthan and Afganisthan are other two question mark countries in the context. No doubt, USA and India cannot be resting too comfortable over the developments. For Egypt and the world in general, it is necessary that a government free of free of Islamic orthodoxy be at the helm of affairs, for a democracy without the social progressive foresight and awareness is naught to be.