Egypt's politicians: who hates Israel most
Il Giornale, may 12, 2012
In spite of concerns that elections in Algeria would produce a win for the Islamists, the lay front scored an apparent victory: The National Liberation Front (NLF, presidential) won 220 out of 462 seats, while the Islamists got 66. The National Rally for Democracy (NRD) led by Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia came second with 68 seats. These are the official results. Is that it? The Islamic “Green Alliance” immediately denounced widespread fraud: they claim the government figures be rigged and they add that “The Country is in danger”. Memories are alarming: in the aftermath of the 1991 elections when the FIS [Islamic Salvation Front] was militarily wiped off (it is nowadays taking part in the elections) Algeria suffered not less than 200 dead.
Times have changed. Exercising democracy however poses certain risks for lay people: Egyptian television showed people crowding in cafes the first presidential debate ever aired on TV between the two candidates Amr Moussa, a lay veteran statesman, former Secretary-General of the Arab League, and Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh of the Muslim Brotherhood. Egypt is currently ravaged by devastating economic and social problems, rising poverty, and bloody chaos.
Yet the two characters after slandering each other chose to focus their noble competition as to who hates Israel most, pledging to cancel the peace treaty. What a great idea, what for statesmen with such a vision of progress, peace, welfare… Poor Egypt, if this is going to be her democracy.