Public’s Opinion in a Yemen Times Survey Regarding Presidential Election: “WE WANT A REFERENDUM…” [Archives:1999/32/Last Page]

Yemen Times has been and will be very close to up-to-date issues. One of these issues is the upcoming presidential elections scheduled to be held on the 23rd of September. In an inquiry about the elections and the parliament’s endorsement on the nominees for the ensuing presidential elections, Yemen Times launched a field survey about these important issue in an effort to know the public’s reaction. 
Kaed Abdoh Mosleh 
Al-Kuwait University Hospital 
The 10% of the parliament’s endorsement is a good and logical article if we take into consideration the importance of the candidacy for this position. This has been applied and will also be applied when the opposition has members in the parliament. It is advisable that the opposition parties should admit facts and accept boldly the results of the parliament endorsement. President Ali Abdullah Saleh is an experienced leader and his great deeds are evident everywhere you go. The presidential elections stand as a strong witness to the democratic process in Yemen. I will elect the person who has made all this accessible to Yemen and Yemenis. I expect that my candidate will go sincerely to build the modern Yemen. I also think a referendum is better as to save us the expenses of the elections. However, holding elections is also important to enhance the elements of democracy in our country. 
Mohsen Mojahed Ali 
I think that elections are the spirit of democracy and is the correct way to express our opinions. The article of the 10% is correct if the parliament consists of different parties. However, our parliament is dominated by two parties. So I do not approve of the article, especially at this time. 
I will elect President Ali Abdullah Saleh and I expect that he will pursue rapid changes in different fields of the country towards prosperity and to obliterate corruption. I prefer a referendum and to make use of the financial funds that are going to be wasted in these elections. 
Nabeela Al-Roba 
A nurse 
Elections are essential in any country that advocates democracy. They are the steps towards the real implementation of democracy in its correct sense. As for the 10% of endorsement I think that this is an article made to choose specific persons and reject other ones. I am going to elect the person who really works for a better tomorrow for Yemenis. I also prefer to have a referendum as to avoid forging and cheating in the voters cards. 
Kaid Hamood Saeed Naser 
A university student 
I think that the presidential elections is nothing more than a waste of time and financial resources at a time when all Yemenis are suffering from a destructive economic crisis. Moreover, the 10% necessary to endorse a nominee does not serve the democratic process as many nominees were rejected by the ruling party and Islah. For me I am not going to elect any one and I do not expect any improvement in the current situation. 
Ahlaam Al-Katheeri 
A university teacher 
I believe in elections in a general sense as they are a clear expression of civilized behavior and of the democratic process that we are sustaining. How much I hoped that a woman will be included in the nominees’ list for these elections so as to prove that the decision makers are really sincere in all that they say about their support for women and their rights. I am not going to elect any one and I do not trust what the presidential candidate says because we are used to such talk whenever there is any electoral campaign. And to the best of my knowledge, I think that a referendum is much better than elections to save us great amounts of money and heavy waste of time. 
Fahd Ahmad kaed 
A student 
I do not believe in elections and I do not care about them because every thing is just a waste of time and money of these poor people who are still hungry after 37 years of the revolution. As for the 10% to endorse a nominee in the presidential elections, I believe that this is just a way to deceive people and control things. I will not elect any one because what could not be done in previous years can not be done in the coming ones. Referendum and elections are complementary to each other of cheating and forging. 
Sara Abdullah 
A journalist 
The electoral process in itself is actually a great event in the history of Yemenis in which Yemenis could be part of their political life. The 10% of the parliament endorsement has negatively affected and ignored woman’s right to be a presidential candidate as it is preserved by the constitution. I am not going to elect anyone and the person chosen by the people will the president who will be responsible for all that corruption in our country. I am in support of a referendum than elections as expenses will be less. 
Hefdullah Ali Al-Hrazi 
An employee 
Elections are a good sign of absolute freedom and democracy to express opinions freely. Regarding the 10% I think that this is a good thing to do so as to give a chance for many people to be candidates. I prefer elections as to strengthen the foundations of democracy in our country. 
Abdullah Al-Jarmoozee 
A chemist 
I am not fond of politics as parties are misunderstood in our country. What I stress is that our country is in dire need of faithful efforts that aim at feeding these starving people. For me I am not going to elect anyone and I do not trust anyone as parties have destroyed all values in human beings. I support neither elections nor referendum because after the nine past years of the unification I have become certain that personal benefit is the moving force and it is the most important thing. 
Fekriah Abdullah 
A gynecologist 
Elections which you are talking about have nothing new to help the people and decrease their pain and suffering. Women are a good sign of this pain and suffering. There is no real democracy and there is no existence for democratic practices in our country. Real elections are those that comprise all the parties is the country. It is obvious that there is no such a thing in our country. Therefore I am not going to elect anyone at all. I also believe that these elections are an exploitation of democracy. I do not believe either in the coming elections or referendum as every thing is controlled by those in power. 
Motahar Aqabat 
A university teacher 
First, I would like to thank the Newspaper for its presence and concern of the people. Elections is the embodiment of democracy the system Yemenis have adopted. However, the article of the 10% has actually led to deadening the competition that might have happened if this article was not there. This article has resulted in a-two-candidate endorsement who belong to the same party. For me I am not going to elect and there can be no hope of anyone of these candidates. Moreover, no one is able to solve the problem of employment or that of the economic crisis. A referendum is better than elections as it will cost us less. 
Mojeeb Ahmad Kaed 
A student 
I see elections as a real implementation of democracy and its sacred principles that if seriously and virtually practiced, great changes will take place. For me I am not going to elect or vote for anyone because all this fuss is about nothing for it is a forgone conclusion that Saleh is going to be the president. I furthermore believe that there will be no improvements in the present situation. The whole thing is just a fart play. 
Ahmad Abdullah Mohammed 
A military officer 
I believe that holding election in our country is the bless of democracy and is a clear reflection of the stage we have reached to in the democratic process. I also support the 10% of endorsement because whatever happens in the parliament, it does not take place unless it is supported by all the members. My candidate for the presidential elections, without a shadow of doubt, is Ali Abdullah Saleh and what I expect from him is a lot as he has done a lot for the people of this country. 
Saeed Alaw 
A bookshop runner 
I really see elections as a great thing in condition that equal, chances should be provided to all. The 10% of endorsement is actually unjust to the democratic process we are claiming to adhere to. For me I am not going to vote for anyone and I doubt all that they say right now. Moreover, I do not believe neither in elections nor in referendum. 
Hameed Ahmad Maooda 
An employee 
I hope that elections will go on peacefully and in its specified time according to the regulations and rules of the election law. The 10% of endorsement is a legal and correct procedure maintained by the constitution. I have the right to keep my candidate to myself and I expect lots of things if all of us join hands and work together for the sake of our country. 
Thabet Ahmad Mohsen 
A carpenter 
I believe that elections are held in according to the constitution of our country. The 10% of the parliament endorsement is an essential thing. I am, of course, with elections rather than with referendum as it is a real implementation of democracy. 
Abdulsalam Al-Karari 
A journalist 
I thought that we are going to see a strong competition between the ruling party and the opposition parties and I was very much in favor of this for it will prove to the world that there is a real democracy in our country. However, I was very much disappointed when the opposition nominee was rejected. Furthermore, the only existing strong party which could have helped in making these elections a success, Islah, decided to introduce President Saleh as their candidate for the presidential elections. 
Practically speaking, I will elect President Saleh as there is no comparison. I expect from my candidate to try to get the country out of the economic crisis and to enhance democracy. Finally, a referendum is better if we take the present situation in consideration. 
By: Ismail Al-Ghabiri, 
Yemen Times 

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