Democracy in Egypt is entirely based on its political regime. Egypt has a rich history in democracy due to its semi-presidential system of government. It is one of the most populous countries in the Middle East and Africa. The road to democracy in Egypt started a couple of centuries ago. It has for long experienced chaos, violence and even upheaval long before it began to enter into a land of democracy.
The road to democracy in Egypt which started centuries ago very is complicated and difficult. Today violence in Egypt is the order of the day and it’s claiming numerous lives which impacts greatly on the country's politics. At present, the country is already in dire political crisis and is seeking aid from world’s powerful nations like the US.
In 1973, at least forty four people were killed in clashes in a course that was believed to be a Way Anniversary. It was an era of President Mohammed Morsi’ a time when the army took over the most populous Arab nation Egypt. At this time, Egyptians were protesting against agents of foreign powers. It was in Cairo’s Tahrir Square where hundreds of thousands of protestants and supporters of the army touted posters of army Chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah, blew whistles and waved Egyptian flags to oppose the alleged foreign powers. At this time, many commentators and western politicians expressed their surprise and even alarmed over Egypt’s revolution which had been caused by political upheavals.
In 2011, Egypt had violent scenes and experienced hundreds of deaths which were accrued to rebel and protesting against the president Mohammed Morsi who had been democratically elected. A deep look into this saga depicts that Egypt has faced challenges following the Arab Spring that brought forth President Nasser era. This was a trying moment for Egypt. A section of the nation advocated for a parliamentary democracy, the army back to its barracks and a return to constitutionalism while another part wanted a firm and unchecked charismatic patron who would be their servant and offer them bread and land. A similar scenario was experienced in 1954 in November when the latter section of Egypt not only destroyed its demands but also crushed the former. This forced Nasser who was the president to deliver on some promises including redistribution and confiscation of land and holding talks with British officials who are their former colonial powers.
The most memorable democratic regime was the January 2011 revolution that challenged Mubarak to step aside. This revolution wanted constitutional prerogatives to assure commitment and guarantee arrangements. It was aimed at breaking the fear barrier of Mubarak’s regime. Mubarak had become president in 1981 and not every Egyptian was happy with his governance. People claimed that his regime had failed to achieve social and true economic freedom. As the most resent democratic movement, the anti Mubarak protests were based on numerous claims aside governance and politics. Egypt Coptic Christians were seemingly not in good terms with Mubarak, it is noted that Mubarak’s regime benefited greatly from sectarianism.
Egyptians have been ruled by emergency law since the Mubarak’s presidency. This emergency law gives the nation all the right to arrest persons regardless of their innocence or guilt; in addition to that, it also gives Egypt the right to bypass its constitution. The most recent saga is the 2013 July coup when elected institutions were removed by the army. Its outcome however was not favorable to democracy. Facts and democratic history of Egypt is quite fascinating from one saga to another in the name of constitutional rights. In the end, what certainly settles in the glass is that there certainly is no democratic transition complete without ending exclusion, targeting abuse and eradicating torture and annulling the impunity of all security services. This however, will entirely be the ultimate test of Egypt’s democratic transition.
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