When Mr. President’s term expires [Archives:2008/1137/Opinion]
By: Ahmad Mohammed Abdulghani
In July 2005, President Ali Abdullah Saleh declared that he would not stand for president again. He further said, “Now, I call on all political forces and parties to look for a new youthful and competent personality to lead the nation.” This declaration was made only one year and two months ahead of September presidential and local council elections in 2006.
Despite the fact that many people welcomed such a declaration and considered it as a brave and unprecedented step made by one of the third world leaders, its aftermath was disappointing. Thousands of Yemeni and Arab writers, who exaggerated in praising Saleh for his brave and unique decision, were shocked at Mr. President's behavior rescinding his decision. Following Saleh's declaration, the Arab writers and thinkers believed that their nations may be progressing toward a prosperous future due to originate from Yemen, but their expectations were totally reversed.
The logic question being raised here is that “Was the man right? And, what motivated him make such a decision although the Constitution allows him to nominate himself for another presidential mandate?”
At that time, the interpretations and analyses multiplied; some people held the view that the man was right since he was suffering a lot and might need to take rest due to his deteriorating health. Another projected reason why the man made such a decision was that of the pressure practiced by the different political forces on his rule and the repeated criticism of his government by the various independent media outlets.
Others were of the opinion that the declaration was merely a spontaneous expression, which the man produced unconsciously without taking into account any related consequences, as it was its habit. A third group of people believed that the president's decision aimed to declare a pressure card to any foreign players and forces that seek to be concerned about the situations in Yemen.
When faced with this question, the political achievements of the Yemeni president immediately come to mind: political stability, unity, some freedom, and political participation – in addition to the fact that he has ruled for 28 years. Does he need such theatrics to remain in power? When one puts it in the context of Arab political realities, specifically among the Arab republics, one cannot avoid asking such a question. The worst thing about it is that there can be only one answer: what happened was indeed theatrics, and not the first nor the last. Theatrics are an integral part of the Arab republican order.
Why resort to this method – as one president after another has done – of 'renouncing' office and then 'retracting' the decision? Does it reflect a disdain for the Arab people? Does it expose a belief that they lack intelligence? Or does it reflect a lack of wisdom on the part of Arab political leaders? More importantly, who or what is it that forces those leaders to make claim to a kind of democratic rule in which they clearly do not believe?
The practice of 'renouncing and retracting' exposes the deep-rooted aspiration among the Arab world's republican leaders to be monarchs. Of course, they cannot aspire to this openly, having for the most part come to power by way of coups d'etats against monarchical regimes which they have condemned as reactionary and backward.
But is it not a contradiction that these coups d'etats have produced political systems that are in no way republican, while producing rulers who lack the characteristics or conditions to be monarchs? Some call them 'monarchical republics'. These regimes combine the negative aspects of both systems, by becoming a form of dictatorship. Despite their slogans, they claim to have qualities of which in reality they are entirely devoid.
As the man was not satisfied with the idea of not running for president, he revealed that at an early time during his unannounced meetings with some executive officials, whom were quoted as saying “by the declaration, the man want to uncover what is taking place under the table only.” This was confirmed by the subsequent lack of practical steps to make a real democratic move in favor of the peaceful transfer of power.
At this point, it has been made apparent that the declaration came as a result of malignant deliberations between some invisible influential personalities, who convinced Mr. President that the declaration may be positive and in his favor at the local level and internationally.
The visits conducted by Mr. President to Thailand, Japan, United States and France in November 2005 seemed to be an exploratory journey to examine the viewpoints of international leaders and what is required in this context. Seemingly, the joint meeting organized by the General People Congress and Council of Ministers, immediately after Saleh returned to Yemen, discussed various issues in this regard although it was held in a state of confusion. The conveners approved that the government should hold regular meetings in order to examine what is contained in the President's report on his international journey. They also advised that the government should bring appropriate means to discuss the report's content in line with a specific timeframe, and then complete the comprehensive process of democratic, economic, financial, administrative and judicial reforms.
Thus, the opposition parties' participation in the election was confined to the final stages of the political process in accordance with the Agreement of Principles, which was approved and signed by the ruling party and Joint Meeting Parties (JMP) in June 2006. The agreement proved vital to add political and democratic legitimacy to the election and its result.
As the agreement significantly coincided with naming President Ali Abdullah Saleh as the GPC candidate for the presidential election, the regional and international support increased, notably as the campaigning entered the phases of sharp competition that reflected a direct threat to President Saleh's electibility. This reality was confirmed by the rallies of the JMP presidential candidate Faisal Bin Shamlan that made both the government and Mr. President live a state of unrest. The unrest and trouble experienced by Mr. President and his government were remarkably reflected in his addresses and behaviors during the campaigning that looked unreasonable, irresponsible and unfamiliar.
Mr. President's conducts during the campaigning were believed by judicious men as evident violations against democracy and politics, thereby labeling them as evidence that democracy in the eyes of Arab leaders is merely speeche and not action.
Source: Al-Ahali Weekly.
——
[archive-e:1137-v:18-y:2008-d:2008-03-13-p:opinion]
