Egypt's left threatens 'million-strong' protest to stop Islamists winning power

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Egyptian activists have threatened to bring mass pro-democracy protests back to Cairo, with a "million-strong" occupation of Tahrir Square planned for 8 July unless the ruling army generals abandon their current "roadmap" to democracy.

In an increasingly rancorous debate, which has developed into a proxy war between the nation's fledgling Islamist and secular political forces, 40 different liberal and leftist movements have joined forces to demand that plans to hold elections in September are dropped.

Campaigners fear the existing post-Mubarak transition programme – which would see September's ballot held under an amended version of Egypt's existing constitution and then allow members of parliament to oversee the writing of a new constitution – may cede permanent power to the Muslim Brotherhood and other religious groups, who are expected to dominate the poll.

Islamists have reacted furiously to the "constitution-first" campaign, arguing that it contradicts the results of a nationwide referendum held in March, in which 77% of the country backed a set of constitutional amendments and endorsed the idea that parliamentary elections should precede any new constitution.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/23/egypt-activists-tahrir-square-elections

[David__77]

1. It seems anti-democratic to impose constitution without elections.

How do the people have input except through their elected representatives?

Either way, foreign countries should not interfere in Egypt's affairs, no matter whether secular or religious forces win power.

[Fool Count]

4. The alternative would be, of course, to elect

a constitutional assembly first which would oversee the drafting of a new constitution to be adopted by a referendum.
There are obvious drawbacks to this approach - it would itself be unconstitutional, since there is no such provision in
the current Egyptian constitution, it will extend the period without popularly elected legitimate legislature and civilian
government. For all of that the constitutional assembly will likely be dominated by the Brotherhood anyway. So the
only thing the left-liberals would gain with this "constitution first" approach is some additional time before parliamentary
elections, which they hope to use to raise their profile and gain more support. They are probably better off by conceding
the first post-revolutionary legislature to the Islamists and forming the opposition to more strongly contest the next
election. But patience is really in short supply in the Arab world nowadays.

[AndyTiedye]

5. The Islamists Only Have to Win Once

Then they are in forever. Theocracies do not get voted out of office,
nor do they fall to popular rebellions.

We face the same situation with the fundie Xtians here.

[Lucky Luciano]

2. Go 21st century!!!!! Booooooooo 7th century!!!! nt

[woo me with science]

3. Love it! nt

[Ter]

6. The Left?

So Egypt's Christians are considered Left, not Right?