Egyptian Election Test

[DGuller]

That'll teach future protesters to have an infantile trust in the army. 

[Ed Anger]

Speaking of Egyptians, I'd give safe refuge to naked blogger chick over there.

[Jacob]

Speaking of Egyptians, I'd give safe refuge to naked blogger chick over there.

Link please.

[Ed Anger]

I'm currently unable to access nekkid shit right now.

Edit: And I'm getting a jailbait vibe now. Ignore all my comments. icky.

[Ideologue]

Arab?  Naked?  Underage?  This looks like a job for SIEGEBREAKER.

[Siege]

Hell no. You can keep your islamotards.

[Sophie Scholl]

Speaking of Egyptians, I'd give safe refuge to naked blogger chick over there.

Link please.

"The twenty-year old Egyptian Aliaa Elmahdy..."  Too old for Siege, and also the name so you can google if you want.



72%
The Socialist Popular Alliance (Al-Tehalaf al Shaabi al Eshtraky) Party
72%
Egyptian Social Democratic (Misry Democrati Egtimaee) Party
68%
The Arab Party for Justice and Equality (El Hezb el Araby lil Adel wel Mosawa)
68%
Reform and Development (Al Eslah we Tanmeyya) -Masrena (Our Egypt) Party
68%
The Modern Egypt Party. (Misr El Hadytha)

[Siege]

 

[Razgovory]

Actually, every time I see Siege's name I think of the word "chair".

[fhdz]

ELECTIONNAIRE RESULTS

The Electionnaire has matched you answers to the positions stated by the political parties.

Click on the results to compare your individual answers to those of a specific party.

Click on Party profiles to get more information on individual parties.


69%
Reform and Development (Al Eslah we Tanmeyya) -Masrena (Our Egypt) Party
   
69%
Free Egypt (Misr Al-Hurra) Party

60%
Justice Party (Al Adl) Party
 
60%
The Modern Egypt Party. (Misr El Hadytha)
 
60%
The New Tomorrow (Al Ghad al Gadeed) Party
 
60%
The New Middle (Al Wasat Al Gadeed) Party
 
60%
Egyptian Citizen Party (Al-Moaten Al-Misri)

I cut all the below-60s.

Top three:

Reform and Development (Al Eslah we Tanmeyya) -Masrena (Our Egypt) Party

This political party was established in June 2011 after the merger of the Reformation and Development Party with the Masrena Party. Its current president is businessman Ramy Lakah.

The party's website is: http://www.rdpegypt.org



General political and economic orientation

The party calls for a republican-parliamentary rule, where the Prime Minister is assigned his post by the President of the Republic. The PM then proposes several candidates to ministerial positions for the President to approve or reject, given that authority is practiced with responsibility in front of the people, and the President is the judge among the authorities.

On the economic level, the party calls for creating a system based on economic freedom of market mechanisms and the free movement of factors of production as a basis for organising the national economy. Meanwhile the state is responsible for the development of social and economic policies that protect citizens from poverty and guarantee a fair distribution of national income.



Quotes from the party manifesto

"Decentralisation is one of the most important tools of any advanced political system as it involves expansion of regional units and local communities. It also allows elected local councils to have the highest authority over their local domain. According to this system, all governors, and city and town chiefs should be appointed by direct and free elections."

"All laws regulating the capitalist market system need to be re-examined, i.e. social insurance laws and public control laws that include civil society organisations' as well as all trade union laws."

"All state authorities must employ methods of liberalising the market to reach a balanced form of capitalism."

"Introducing unemployment benefits and maintaining support for projects that protect and promote the local private sector, especially in labour-intensive areas."

"Abolishing the Ministry of Information, as in a real democratic regime the government ensures that every person's opinion is expressed. Thus, the state cannot own or run newspapers."

"Establishing a Higher Council for developing education has become a pressing need as Egypt, once considered a pioneer of the world knowledge, has now become a country with one of the highest illiteracy rates and the lowest participation in global development and research of interest to humankind."

"Encouraging farmers to expand in planting wheat by having the government provide suitable supply prices to farmers based on international prices, while raising the supply price of beet so as to maintain a balance with wheat prices. There must be a balance of prices between rice and corn via agricultural rotations of wheat and corn crops to get the highest production."

"The concept of the sovereignty of the law should be the cornerstone of the Constitution as all citizens are equal before the law, without discrimination based on race, religion or region, since over the centuries Egypt has been a beacon of freedom, democracy and equality."

"Conforming to all international human rights pacts and conventions, asserting that there shall be no discrimination among citizens based on religion, gender or any other criterion, and explicitly protecting these rights and freedoms in the Constitution, while banning and criminalising the detention and restriction of people's freedom without issuance of court rulings."

"Increasing transparency and accountability of executive authority members, giving the Parliament the opportunity to penalise a Prime Minister and to remove him from office if needed."



About the party

The party was established with the merger of two parties: namely the Reformation and Development Party and Masrena Party. The former announced its establishment on January 6, 2009 with Anwar Esmat Al-Sadat as its undersecretary. The Administrative Court's Political Party Circuit also gave the approval for its establishment in May 2011.

Masrena Party's establishment was announced by businessman Ramy Lakah, who took up party leadership for a transitional phase of two years.

Free Egypt (Misr Al-Hurra) Party

Free Egypt is a political liberal party that announced its establishment in March 2011. The founders' undersecretary is Dr. Abdullah El-Ashaal.



General political and economic orientation

The party calls for a civil state, which applies parliamentary democracy where the President is honorary, oversees the implementation of the constitution and intervenes in case of disagreement among the available parties.

On the economic level, the party calls for rebuilding the economy on the basis of social justice, rebuilding an industrial base, and rehabilitating the agricultural sector.



Quotes from the party manifesto

"Closing ports of corruption using awareness and punishment, asserting the sanctity of public funds and public office as money and position that are the property of the community, which allow the government to put the required regulations to make use of that money."

"Rehabilitating state agencies according to the law and without oppression; having a state based on satisfaction, compatibility, and acceptance and that enjoys the legitimacy of the voter, the law and safe performance and penalisation."

"All aid and political donations given to the State should be stopped, whilst maintaining and deepening international relations and fruitful international co-operation based on higher national interests. Creating an integrated humane society that grows above the domination and brutality of globalisation."

"Creating an independent ministry concerned with the Nile River affairs. Its mission is to guarantee Egypt's portion of the Nile in co-ordination with relevant ministries."

"Rehabilitating marginalised provinces, remote villages, Sinai, the Western Desert, Nubia, Halaib and Shalatin."

"Addressing the issue of unemployment with urgent solutions in an economic, social, political framework guaranteeing all members of society the right to work and equal wages."

Justice Party (Al Adl) Party

The Justice Party is one of a number of parties established following the recent Egyptian revolution. It obtained the approval of the Party Affairs Committee on the June 26, 2011. The party has a co-ordinating committee that consists of Dr.Ahmed Shokry, AbdelMonem Aly, Mohammed Hafez, Dr. Mostafa El Naggar and Hesham Akram. This situation is underway until their first internal elections in April 2012.

The party's website: http://wwww.eladl.org



General political and economic orientation

In the first phase after the revolution, the party calls for the continuation of the presidential regime but with limited powers of the president, till the establishment of political parties and the revival of the partisan map. This should allow a convenient base for partisan competition that paves the way for a real parliamentary regime.

On the economic level, the party aims to establish a free economy system where both local and foreign private sectors are major actors in achieving its goals. In this system, the state plays the role of the observer, catalyst and regulator.



Quotes from the party manifesto

"Expanding elections to executive branch on all levels (mayors, district presidents, local councils, governors, universities, clubs and student unions...etc.)"



"Freedom of religious belief, protection of the rights of practicing religious rituals and the freedom of publicity as long as it does not conflict with the beliefs of others, with laws regulating the means of publicity, its funding and places. Religious institutions should be independent of the state financially and administratively, and should be free to work within the frame of civil society but not in politics."

"Establishing a free economy system that aims at providing social justice, balanced growth and equal opportunities to all Egyptians."

"Dependence on new and renewable sources of energy which have a great potential in Egypt."

"Establishing an independent body to observe the performance of national media institutions to ensure its independence and the maintenance of the values of the society."

[Capetan Mihali]

Actually, every time I see Siege's name I think of the word "chair".

Electric?

[Sheilbh]

Revolution's back:

Egypt's government offers to resign as protests grow

Generals have opened crisis talks with civilian political leaders after widespread violence continued to plunge Egypt into turmoil


Protesters in Tahrir Square
Egypt's cabinet tendered its resignation as clashes raged in Tahrir Square between police and protesters demanding democratic change in the country. Photograph: Mahmud Khaled/AFP

Egypt's ruling generals have opened crisis talks with civilian political leaders after the entire government tendered its resignation and widespread street violence continued to plunge the country into turmoil.

At least 33 people have been killed and more than 2,000 injured following a third day of clashes in Cairo and beyond, with confirmation emerging for the first time that security forces have been firing live ammunition at demonstrators.

With under a week to go until nationwide parliamentary elections are due to begin, beleaguered interim prime minister Essam Sharaf announced he and his cabinet were willing to step down in a bid to quell the growing unrest. But the offer – which at midnight on Monday had yet to be accepted by the military junta – appeared unlikely to appease demonstrators who continued to flock to city centres across the country demanding that the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) cede power and hand Egypt over to civilian rule.

In a late-night statement to the nation, the army generals appealed for calm and expressed 'deep regret' for the deaths of protesters. But as fierce fighting between revolutionaries and armed police showed no sign of letting up and video footage of police and army brutality against unarmed demonstrators continued to circulate, their calls for self-restraint seemed destined to fall on deaf ears.

"The Scaf only have two choices – they obey the will of the people, or Egypt burns," said Ramy el-Swissy, a leading member of the April 6th youth movement which is one of several organisations that has announced plans for a 'million-man' occupation of Tahrir today.

A broad coalition of revolutionary movements from across the political spectrum, including leftist, liberal and Islamist organisations, also threw their full weight behind the protests. "We confirm our readiness to face all the forces that aim to abort the revolution, reproduce the old regime, or drag the country into chaos and turn the revolution into a military coup," said a joint statement by 37 groups.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest organised political movement, added its voice to the chorus of discontent, accusing Scaf of contradicting 'all human, religious and patriotic values' with their callousness and warning that the revolution that overthrew former president Hosni Mubarak earlier this year was able to rise again.

"What happened is a heinous crime, expressing a dark deep desire, an attempt to lure faithful patriotic citizens in order to crush them and spread chaos everywhere," said the Brotherhood in a statement. "All this proves that there are certain parties who have no problem burning Egypt, our homeland, and killing young people in order to herd the entire public into blind obedience, into tyranny and corruption and slavery yet again."

The organisation also announced it was temporarily suspending all electoral activities, but unlike many liberal and leftist parties it has yet to cancel its campaign.

Earlier in the day a last-ditch effort by the junta to stem the violence by offering concessions to their critics – including the passing of a long-awaited "treachery law" that would bar former members of Hosni Mubarak's now-disbanded ruling party from running in the upcoming elections, which are now less than a week away – appeared only to galvanise resistance, as did the later announcement of Sharaf's proposed resignation.

"The Egyptians have accepted being beaten, arrested and lied to by their political leaders for sixty years, but after everything we went through, we are not going to accept it anymore." said Gamila Ismail, a parliamentary candidate who has now suspended her campaign and joined the protests in central Cairo.

"The message being sent to Scaf by Egypt's youth is: 'shoot me in the eye, burn away my flesh, and then I will go and fix myself up at the field hospital and come straight back to the struggle'," she added. "They used to dream of cars, houses and leaving the country; now they dream of standing in Tahrir. The age of authoritarianism is over, no one can tell the Egyptians what to do anymore."

Despite continued denials by the authorities, evidence has emerged that some police or army units are using live ammunition on protesters.

Researchers from the Egyptian Initiative for Human Rights, a Cairo-based human rights organisation, told the Guardian they had confirmation that the bodies of four people killed by live bullets were in the city's main morgue. The victims were all aged between 19 and 27.

William Hague, the British foreign minister, said the violence was of "great concern" but added that the UK would not be taking sides.

The US urged Egypt to go ahead with the elections and called for restraint on all sides. The White House spokesman, Jay Carney, said: "The United States continues to believe that these tragic events should not stand in the way of elections." His comments came as clashes continued in the side streets off Tahrir Square, with the frontline between protesters and armed police shifting back and forth throughout the day.

At one point teargas was fired by the security forces into a makeshift field hospital off the central plaza, forcing volunteer doctors and wounded protesters to flee. Nearby mosques and churches opened their doors to the injured, though medics said they were vastly under-resourced and struggling to keep count of the casualties.

Some demonstrators took to writing the contact details of their families on their arms before joining the fray so they can be identified if killed. Meanwhile Tahrir's main holding station for fatalities said it had run out of coffins, and appealed for a fresh supply.

By nightfall Tahrir had become a surreal mix of the festive and the fearful, with singing, drums and the wail of ambulance sirens echoing through the gloom. Sporadic explosions could be heard on the south-west corner of the square, where heavy fighting continued in the side streets around the interior ministry.

Beyond the capital, unrest has spread to almost every major urban centre in the country, including Ismailia on the Suez Canal and the strategically important town of al-Arish in the northern Sinai peninsula. In Egypt's second-largest city, the Mediterranean port of Alexandria, thousands of students took to the streets after the death of a second protester.

This re-emphasises the view I've had that the SCAF aren't svengalis blocking Egypt's transition and behind everything in the past 11 months.  They're just kind-of incompetent bunglers with guns who need to return to their barracks.

Apparently the Salafis are building (with wood!) a field hospital in the square.  They've had some confrontations though.  They're doing the usual 'one hand chants' while the rest of the crowd are accusing them of being 'thieves of the revolution'.  There's normally a lull reportedly when the SCAF attack.

Finally, I mentioned it in another thread, but I'm really intrigued by Kuwait.  A few nights ago they stormed Parliament and want the PM sacked.  Tonight there's apparently been a third night of protests by 10 000s of Kuwaitis - which is surprising.  Unfortunately there's no footage.  Hopefully it won't end with GCC imposed peace like Bahrain - backed by tacit Western approval.  No doubt we'll issue a statement soon calling on all sides, both the unarmed peaceful protestors and the military, to show restraint.

[jimmy olsen]

What good is these guys resigning going to do? Whose available to replace them?

[Ideologue]

What good is these guys resigning going to do? Whose available to replace them?

We're in talks.

[DGuller]

What good is these guys resigning going to do? Whose available to replace them?

We're in talks.