Yemeni elections and alliances unclear map [Archives:2002/32/Focus]

BY ISMAEL AL GHABRI
Observers expect that the coming days will be witnessing a hot electoral competition between Yemeni political parties. This competition was started earlier with political parties exchanging accusations coinciding with intensive activities of some parties in preparation for elections.
Unlike the previous elections, it seems that no party is to be out of the political game as all the parties are in full swing for the upcoming elections. Yet, there are no indicators of electoral boycotting except some statements by Islah party leaders which saying boycotting is an option on their agenda.
However, the ongoing arrangements for elections come while most of the controversial issues among the political parties, government, and opposition on the electoral committees representation and the new electoral record were solved.
Currently, the electoral equilibration seems to be of various sides if we looked at the map of the existing alliances and the number of the participating parties. It is expected that more than 22 parties are going to frantically compete in the upcoming elections. But probably the most intensive competition will take place between the 3 sides; the People General Congress (PGC),the biggest and the dominant party, Yemen Congregation party (Islah), and the Supreme Opposition Coordination Council (SOCC).
In spite of the current agreement between the Joint Meeting parties (8 parties), mainly Islah and the parties of the (SOCC), observers think that such alliance is still not probable. This conclusion has been recently confirmed by leader of the Islah party, making it clear that his party relationship and the (SOCC) did not raise to alliance status but merely a coordination at reasonable limits.
The chairman of the political office of Islah party thinks any future alliance could be among the opposition to encounter any legal violations. He also says that alliances meaning to run elections in one slate is too early to think of. The idea of possible alliance between Islam and PC was rejected completely by him and he described it as impossible and the alliance possibility between PC and other parties is more acceptable.
On the other hand, the assistant secretary general of the PC, Mr. Yahoo Al, said alliances arrangement with some parties are still undecided but Im quite sure that the nature of the coming electoral competition would pave the way for political alliances between the opposition parties against the PC. Mr. Yahoo confirmed that PC would welcome them because it is in interest of democracy.
The secretary general of the party, Al, says The opposition parties alliance is very important and logic to face the ruling party dominance over the political life and the elections if we really want a well-balanced and democratic parliament. About Islam alliance with other parties within the DUMP, he confirmed This is exactly what the opposition parties want to achieve and I think (Islam) recognizes the importance of such alliances but we do not expect a complete alliance in these elections. In regards to his reading of the political map in comparison to the last elections, Mr. Al says that the political map is clearer than before as there is no boycotting parties and no coalition parties like 1997 elections.
In spite of all the variations in the parties expectations on the expected electoral map, some sources assure that the coming days will be witnessing a coordination of attitudes between PC and (Islam) parties on the light of the historical alliances background between them.
On the contrary, some sources say that the absence of alliance between the two parities is more likely due to the current wide gap between them. To conclude, even the parties which include three other parties beside the five parties of the coordination council, Arab Socialist Batas, Septemberian party and Islah, but the possibility of creating an integrated alliance for all of them, with or without Islah, still not confirmed ascribed to the existed variations which can not be left behind.

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