Democratic Challenges for Islamist President

Democracy and Islam are rarely viewed through the same political lens by United States and its allies, because of which an Islamist’s victory through democratic polls in Egypt’s presidential elections has sent confusing signals. Though cautious attempts are being made to hold this as symbolic of success of Arab Spring, the picture isn’t totally clear as yet. Mohammed Mursi is the first Islamist politician in Arab world to have been freely elected to this position through the ballot box.

Mursi’s victory does spell a major historic turn for demonstrations and protests, which began at Tahrir Square last year in January. But challenges staring at Mursi have strong undemocratic traits because of which his ensuring prevalence of democracy in Egypt is not likely to be an easy task. Professionally an engineer, who received this degree in United States, Mursi belongs to an 84-year old group, Muslim Brotherhood that was earlier frequently banned. He himself has been imprisoned once during former President Hosni Mubarak’s regime.

Socially and politically, Mursi’s background gives impression of being rather conservative by democratic standards envisaged by the West as a part of political transformation labeled as Arab Spring. Besides, though he has won, it cannot be missed that he secured only a 3.5 percentage point victory over his rival Ahmed Shafiq, who had served as Mubarak’s last prime minister.

The unrest in Egypt followed by military assuming power and command in most areas at present leaves the country’s President with numerous problems to handle and very little power. Though Mursi is in power, his position is hardly as powerful as was that of the last Egyptian President.

The country’s economy is in a miserable state. Egypt is at present without a constitution and its parliament was dissolved a few weeks ago. Faced with challenges at all levels, it isn’t clear as to how would Mursi handle the same if the military decides not to hand back the powers it has assumed to him and his new government.

Nonetheless, Mursi is at present doing his best to deftly handle nominal powers he has with him, which include his indulging in rhetoric, forming a broad-based government and announcing populist measures. Mursi is well aware that his immediate priority is to reach out to all Egyptians and remove apprehensions held about his being an Islamist.

During his victory speech, Mursi stated that Egyptians, Muslims and Christians “will face together the together the strife and conspiracies that target our national unity.” “We are all equal in rights and we all have duties towards this homeland.”

The importance of this speech lies in Mursi giving emphasis to the need for “unity” among all Egyptians, irrespective of their religious affiliations and differences. Ahead of his formally taking oath, Mursi signaled that he is likely to select a woman and also a Christian among his vice-presidents. Not willing to cross swords with the military, Mursi may assign some key portfolios to them.

Undeniably, Egyptian history has been rewritten with Mursi’s election as the new president. This is also an important development in transition of Egypt to democracy. Yet, with military in command, subsequent progress along democratic lines may not be a smooth process.

At present, it isn’t clear as to whether the country is heading for a parliamentary form of democracy or the presidential form. The yet to be written constitution will define Egypt’s new system of government. It will also lay out the reach of presidential powers and role of military establishment. The work has begun on the new constitution with military ensuring that they have power over this process too. If the existing constitution-writing body, in which the Brotherhood has an important say, does not succeed, the military has the right the set up a new one.

Mursi also has tough challenges to face where Egypt’s foreign policy is concerned. In a tacit reference to Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel, Mursi has stated that he would preserve Egypt’s international accords. Though this treaty is highly unpopular in Egypt, it is the key to Cairo receiving more $1billion in aid annually from United States.

Mursi is certainly playing all possible political cards to ensure that support for him as President grows at all levels at home and abroad. So far, he has succeeded in holding sway over Egyptian media. Mursi has assumed power democratically and his primary responsibility is to ensure that democracy prevails here. His election is just a step in this direction. Now, the democratic strength of subsequent steps taken by Mursi is to be closely watched!

  The writer is a freelance journalist