SILVER LININGThe post-elections challenges [Archives:2006/984/Opinion]
Mohammed Al-Qadhi
Now, the game is over. We have all experienced an excellent exercise that is likely to set the foundation for a better democratic practice in the future.
The elections campaigns period was really splendid and manifested an interest in boosting this emerging democracy. The televised and on camera rallies were substantially a genuine exercise of a true democracy where people were having a real choice for the first time. I, like many others, were concerned of violent election but surprisingly, it was the most peaceful election, adding one more credit to this exciting experience.
However, what happened during the last few days of the elections campaigns and the voting day has distorted the beautiful image we were making. The ruling party manipulated the security and terrorism question to unfairly attack its rival. These elections, according to the European Union Election Observation Mission, were marked with a number of irregularities including the major use of state resources by the ruling party during the election campaign, reports of violence including five deaths in election-related incidents as well as problems with the voter register resulting in a high number of duplicate entries and ineligible names. The mission also noted breaches of secrecy of the vote, illegal assistance of voters and underage voters. There were also a number of irregularities that were not jotted down by the European mission in remote villages where voting lasted only for two hours and the poll boxes were filled by the elections commission workers and influential figures instead of the voters who were scared or manipulated by different means.
Of course, we should not expect a perfect election. However, such irregularities have negatively affected the results and the democratic process at large. I have heard many people complaining that elections in such environment can never be fruitful. I do not mean to refute the whole process but the interference of some influential figures, as one foreign observer told me, was ridiculous. The overall aim of any election is to demonstrate the people freedom to choose. Unfortunately, it was not respected in some areas.
Some people have been upset with the opposition rejection of the initial results. I guess this is something good that they continue fighting for their rights despite all sorts of pressures. I do not think the opposition declaration to ask their supporters to take to the streets to denounce the results will mean an inclination to violence. I do not think the opposition will fulfil their pledge to incite protests. But, it is an exercise of pressure on the ruling party to not control everything. The opposition does not object the victory of Saleh but the 80% score given to Saleh.
But, as many people have voted for the ruling party, their choice should be respected. Veteran president Ali Saleh has come to office now with difficulty. His regime has been lashed out at during the elections campaigns and corruption of his cronies was the major setback. The man has promised to crack down the corrupt crooks, as a major task he has to carry out.
Saleh is truly facing a great challenge now. The man has been in power for 28 years now and is to complete another seven years. This new term puts him in a fix, either to unleash his cronies or start a real war on corruption, the country's real headache. The man has to challenge this issue and many others if he is really keen about his legacy when he is gone.
At the same time, the opposition coalition parties are facing a similar challenge which is to keep their alliance together, maintaining the momentum of the pre-elections period. They should not be frustrated that their dream of a fair play is shattered. No, they have done a good job by the decision to challenge Saleh and what matters is that they should keep it up.
Mohammed Al-Qadhi is a Yemeni journalist and columnist.
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