Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury
Egyptian President Mohammad Morsi is clearly walking a tightrope. The first democratically elected leader of the population-wise largest Arab nation -- that also wields considerable political influence regionally and internationally -- is on a slippery ground.
Just within less than six months of his rule, President Morsi is on a collision course with the opposition. Indications are that the escalating crisis over the new constitution of the country may throw the president in a deeper crisis, threatening his political future unless he succeeds in defusing the growing tension.
It is a fast-developing situation; the opposition demonstrators are clamouring for the annulment of the "decrees" that have granted the president enormous powers. His critics are also opposing tooth and nail a referendum on December 15 that the government is seeking to legitimize a hastily approved constitution by the constituent assembly, dominated by Morsi's Islamic supporters.
The relatively secular opposition parties feel that the president is going back on his promise about strengthening democratic institutions of Egypt and is, instead, grabbing too much authority through the "decrees" which they see as "dictatorial". But the government appears unbending despite growing protests. Consequently, the country is on the threshold of a deeper crisis.
Egypt saw political turmoil and mayhem not long ago when long-time autocrat Hosni Mubarak was forced to quit power by a mass movement, now an elected leader -- rather unfortunately -- faces a critical condition of political survival within a very short period of time.
But Morsi is himself to blame for this unexpected development as he had no business to rush in, with the measures that he has taken and that too through a procedure that evidently lacks in democratic credentials. Why did the Islamist president need to promulgate "decrees" for concentration of so much of power in his own hand in country that has gone through glorious transformation towards a pluralistic society? It was early last year that a new chapter had ushered in, in the "Land of Nile" with the fall of Hosne Mubarak, who ruled the country with iron-fist policies, finally being toppled by the people's power.
Morsi won a hard-fought election and he needs to deliver what he promised to the Egyptian people; the expectations are quite high from him. The first elected leader was faring well when he vowed to stamp out corruption from the government and also got rid of some powerful military personnel from the administration as democracy was strengthened. He also successfully brokered the ceasefire, in consultation with the United States, between Israel and the Palestinians in Gaza.
President Morsi's steadfast support for the Palestinians -- a departure from the Mubark-era -- also earned him great admiration. He sent his prime minister to the Gaza strip in the midst of the Israeli air attack in a daring demonstration of unqualified support for the people of Palestine. All these augured well for the US-educated professional engineer, who was in jail for being the leader of the Islamic "Muslim Brotherhood" that was outlawed by fallen dictator Mubarak.
But Mohammad Morsi miscalculated the mood of the Egyptian people as he sought to rush through his "agenda" by promulgation of the "decrees" and this has split the nation. A secular leader and former chief of the United Nations nuclear watchdog, Mohammad El-Baradi says that the president is increasingly becoming an "autocrat" that bodes ill for the country. True, there is little scope to support Morsi's recent steps that contradict the democratic principles and more importantly, no such needs really arose to do what he had done and he can still go ahead with his agenda following a democratically accepted procedure. He should not have moved in haste, showing any aggressive posture and that too within a short period of time of the landmark changes in Egypt.
The "Tahrir Square", the symbolic site of the recent revolution, is once again bristling with the protestors. Clashes among the supporters and opponents of Morsi are also taking place near the presidential palace. Indeed, things are moving in a dangerous manner.
The government is hell-bent upon staging the referendum on December 15 on the new constitution while the opposition is equally determined to resist it. Morsi's offer for dialogue has been spurned by the opponents, compounding further complexities of the situation.
Some analysts fear about army intervention and this, if that happens, would definitely put the clock in the reverse direction in a country that has made too great a sacrifice for democracy. Time is not yet lost for a reconciliation and the initiative has to come from the government to break the stand-off.
For the opposition, it must not allow a situation to snowball to a problem of any severe proportion that would not help the cause of democracy and people's interest. Besides, Israel and several other countries are simply waiting in the wings to watch Egypt plunge into a deeper crisis. All concerned in the Egyptian tangle must take their broader national interest into consideration, jettisoning stubbornness and intransigence that can bring no good for this largest Arab country.
zaglulbss@yahoo
Source: http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/index.php?ref=MjBfMTJfMDlfMTJfMV8xXzE1MjYyMA==
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