Two presidential candidates in Egypt’s upcoming presidential election still don’t know if they will be on the ballot. See this story. One faces allegations that his mother was a U.S. citizen, and the other faces charges that he had too much association with banned groups.
Ballot Access News
Edited By Richard Winger
People have to remember that the new government is still running on the old constitution, so yes, the Salafist that wants to block Women and tourists pretty much doing anything should be blocked from running on the basis that he breaks the rules by having a parent with citizenship from another country.
Regardless of whether or not that is a morally right reason to block a candidate, doesn’t escape the fact that its a legitimate block with current legislation.
Regarding the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, which almost split the party in two given their previous commitment to NOT stand in the Presidential election, does fail a moral right by breaking their promise. However, if he is banned for being a member of a ‘banned group’, that also makes a shamble of the Parliamentary elections in which the group won a plurality of the vote.
What is strange about all this is that candidates who formed the last regime might still get to stand, despite the fact that all sides of the revolution; Islamists, Secularists, Liberals, Minorities (other than the military, it seems) wants a complete block of the old administration getting the chance to stand in the Presidential election.
As a Muslim myself, I’m disappointed by the Muslim Brotherhood breaking their promise, although I know how divided the group is on the issue and it seems to be more about a personality cult around its candidate rather than a group consensus. One would presume that the best case scenario might see the Presidential role being rather ceremonial, but regardless a Secular/Liberal President would definitely be better off given the views of the two candidates from the Religious Conservative side.
Where is the Muslim Sisterhood?!?
Pure proportional represntation (PR) now, for the women of Egypt!
–James Ogle [Free Parliamentary]
Join the Frees,
Opposite gender #1!
(With consecutively alternating genders thereafter)
http://www.usparliament.org/google2012.php
Note: I am not supported by the owners of Ballot Access News. They are openly for the pluralist candidates, Hon Gary Johnson [Libertarian].
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