Egypt doesn’t really seem to care much for democracy – at least if they’re an Egyptian leader. Shahira Amin of AL Monitor reports in a posting entitled “Egyptians split as lawmakers pave way for Sisi to be ‘president for life‘”:
Egyptian lawmakers have proposed changes to Egypt’s constitution, including amendments to expand the military’s powers and to allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to remain in office following the end of his second term, and potentially until 2034. The amendments have sparked controversy in the country, drawing mixed reactions from members of parliament, analysts and activists.
The suggested alteration to Article 140 of the constitution would extend presidential terms from four to six years, and changes to Article 200 would allow the military to ensure “that the principles of the June 30 Revolution are observed,” which means preventing Islamists from ever rising to power. The amendments are being packaged with progressive changes, to make them more palatable to the public.
Sisi’s supporters praised the amendments, arguing that “four years are not enough” and that the president needs “more time to complete the development plans that he started,” while critics decried the changes as an “Arab Spring in reverse” and “a coup against the Egyptian Constitution.”
If his plans are all that wonderful, then his successors should be more than pleased to complete them. It’s a non-starter of an argument, in my view.
But, more importantly, this will present challenges for other nations in the future. Does the United States want to be associated with an autocratic Egypt? It certainly was when Sadat and then Mubarak ran the country, but then we had the USSR to contend with. How about now? Is Iran a great enough adversary to require the submission of ethics to the challenge? Indeed, perhaps Egypt is only half a step away from being an autocracy right now. Treating the constitution as a bit of jello, to be deformed as necessary to satisfy ambition, feels like the next half-step – and leaves me wondering about his trustability when it comes to international agreements.
