Middle East Focus: Frantic Politicking in Bahrain……………

Arabia Deserta

Frantic Politicking in Bahrain……………

“Despite its pessimism, the group intends to run candidates in two out of the eight hotly contested seats among Sunni Islamists, leftists, pan-Arab, and independent candidates in Muharraq – one of Bahrain’s five governorates. “The Bahraini elections reflect a division of power between the authorities and the largest of the Shiite opposition grouping – Al Wefaq,” Mr Hashem said. “It is that meticulous nature of the system which makes these elections unable to meet the criteria that allow it to rise to the level of elections we witnessed in Iraq, Morocco, Jordan, or even Egypt.”…………. Mr Hashem said he expected to see 23 pro-government candidates voted in again this year after these candidates receive the approval of the authorities that backed them with financial support. “That is why the last elections produced 17 Shiite members of parliament in the face of 23 pro-government Sunni members of parliament,” he said. “The authorities see these 23 MPs, which are made up of classical Sunni Islamist movements from Salaf and Islamic Brotherhood as well as independents, as the government lobby inside the parliament…….”

Fine, but I would not call the phony elections in Egypt (the most humorous Arab country, ante-Mubarak) and Jordan (the least humorous Arab country ever) as examples to be followed. You don’t want that kind of “democracy”.
Cheers
mhg

Mon Email