Zawaya

Elections should result in transfer of power

By: Salah Zeghidi

Elections in democracies are critical milestones in political life; events that emphasise the sustainability and vitality of the democratic aspect of these regimes. Elections also are the gateway to sharing power for interested citizens, whereby voters get to change their rulers.

In the Maghreb region, 2009 was set as an election year in Algeria (the presidential elections in April, in which President Bouteflika was elected for a third term), Mauritania (presidential elections), Tunisia (synchronous presidential and legislative elections), and Morocco (municipal elections).

Naturally, these elections are drastically different from the elections described at the start of this paper. Existing political regimes in the region hinge on the fact that their legitimacy is stable, and their representation of their nations is incontestable. As such, elections become a mere “administrative” procedure that enables the existing authority to reassert its legitimacy among the masses, re-organise the inner hierarchy of authority or of the ruling party, and to create new balances of power among the various key players; the palace/government/parties/Parliament – the army/government/parties, etc. This state of affairs has persisted for decades, varying from one country to another and from one era to the other.

The question arises: how long is this going to go on, at a time when the world is witnessing a wide-ranging shift toward instituting and expanding democratic practices? How can we shift from authoritarian/despotic rule to democratic/patriotic practices? From administrative/pro forma elections to civil/free elections?

Things seem very complex, and unfortunately, the near future bears no reason for optimism. Complexity resides in the fact that the culture of democracy, and the values constituting its essence, are not entrenched in countries of the region, nor in all regions where the Islamic culture prevails. According to Islamic culture, religion plays a part in the context of politics. In fact, the state and politics are there to serve religion, as well as religious teachings and legislation. Added to that is the economic, social, and cultural backwardness which characterizes those countries, with varying degrees, but which should not be neglected. I think very few could disagree that backward thinking and Islamic fundamentalism, on the one hand, and the Arab/Islamic political despotism, as represented in absolute autocracy, on the other, represent the two main obstacles hindering those countries from starting an era of freedom, democracy and real, fair, and multi-party elections. The battle of balloting, cultured individuals, democratic parties, and civil society organisations in the Maghreb region in pursuit of democratising public life, which naturally includes political life, and in pursuit of respecting citizens’ rights to democratic elections to choose their rulers and representatives freely and transparently, is a battle that is bound to stand in the face of dark fundamental thinking on the one hand, as well as all forms of despotic practices and autocracy on the other. It is important to note that the victory in this battle will decide the destiny of these countries and their peoples.