New party shows deep political change in new Egypt
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Pro-democracy supporters wave Egyptian flags during a supporters' celebration at Talaat Harb Square in Cairo February 18, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Mohamed Abd El-Ghany
CAIRO |
CAIRO (Reuters) - A court on Saturday approved a new political party that had sought a license for 15 years, making it the first to be recognized since Hosni Mubarak's overthrow and illustrating the political earthquake shaking the new Egypt.
In a move to placate reformists and strikers and distance itself from the Mubarak regime, the interim government will change up to four ministers in a limited cabinet reshuffle, an Egyptian official was quoted by state media as saying.
The Wasat Party (Center Party) had tried to gain an official license four times since 1996, but each time its application was rejected by a political parties committee chaired by a leading member of the ruling party, a procedure that stifled opposition.
"The court ruled that the party was established and legitimate as of today," Egypt's news agency said of Wasat, set up by a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood and which wants to fuse a respect for Islamic society with democracy.
The means that the Wasat Party can take part in elections that the military has promised to hold within six months and its founder Abou Elela Mady said that it had been powered by "the winds of freedom that blew with the revolution."
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which took over in Egypt after the momentous downfall of Mubarak, 82, dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution to amend it ahead of the elections.
"The current unstable political conditions do not permit a new constitution," said the official quoted by state media, referring to turmoil in the Arab world's most populous nation that followed anti-Mubarak protests that started on January 25.
The amendments are expected to be completed in the coming days and will be submitted to a referendum, a judge on the committee dealing with the changes said.
Egypt's military this weekend warned workers using their new-found freedom to protest over pay that strikes must stop, in a move that businessmen said on Saturday could have come sooner.
Workers cite a series of grievances. What unites them is a new sense of being able to speak out in the post-Mubarak era.
CARROT AND STICK
Under pressure from activists to speed up the pace of reform by lifting emergency law and freeing political prisoners, the military had adopted a softly-softly approach since taking over but is now saying labor unrest threatens national security.
The state of emergency should be lifted within six months, the official told state media.
The military issued the order, effectively banning strikes and industrial action, after millions celebrated across Egypt with fireworks, dancing and music to mark a week since Mubarak stepped down after 30 years.
"Though this statement should have come way earlier, I think the army was just allowing people to take their chance to voice their demands and enjoy the spirit of freedom," said Walid Abdel-Sattar, a power industry executive, said on Saturday.
Some of these workers, namely: textile, steel, Suez Canal, health workers, Culture Ministry workers – among many many others – get paid horrible inadequate wages that barely cover their daily bread, without a full-time contract or any adequate benefits!
Most these people live on less than 50c a day, and all they are asking for is to get full-time status, with a 15% raise. Given that most these companies bring in billions of dollars a year in profit, giving these people what they deserve is the least we can do!!
I find it appalling – especially since those last minute labour strikes are without a doubt what pushed matters over the edge and brought the former regime down, that we are all now abandoning them!
Some of them got good deals and went back to work, but the rest still haven’t gotten any responses to any of their requests.
Give these poor people their rights and dignity back!
That should be the first step towards jump starting the economy; Happy satisfied workers!!
Arab malcontents will not get a raise in pay. Employers need low labor costs to make their products competitive. The recent 150 million dollar donation by the US will temporarily satisfy some Egyptian strikers. But it will take a trillion dollars annually to feed every poverty stricken Arab.
The Americans were the first to show how Christianity and democracy can work together complimenting one another. The Turks were the first to show how Islam and democracy can work together harmoniously. Now the Egyptians are showing us how democracy cannot fail to take root, once the voice of a nation’s people unites firmly to demand it.
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