CAIRO: Once sidelined, Egypt’s youth have carved themselves a niche in the political arena after the role they played in pushing for democracy.
While their participation in politics was minimal under Hosni Mubarak’s rule, their influence in the January 25 Revolution was indisputable.
“The youth are going to be everywhere, in political parties, in official posts; this is the time for youth. They are interested and thirsty for politics and thirsty for working,” said the young political figure, Shahir George, member of the Kefaya Movement and the National Association for Change.
He pointed out that youth attendance currently dominates political lectures and seminars.
“The people feel for the first time that this country is our country and we have to work for it and we can’t sit back and stay silent,” he explained.
Forty percent of Egypt’s population are in the 10-29 age bracket, according to the cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center.
Leading members of opposition political parties are opening their doors to the youth whom they believe will dominate the political arena in the
upcoming period.
“Egypt is a young country, the majority of the population are youth and the youth are the ones who are going to rule in the upcoming period,” said Sherif Taher, member of the liberal political party Al-Wafd.
“Through democracy they are going to elect the people who represent them, and naturally the people who are going to represent the youth are either going to be either young in age or young at heart,” he added.
Internal conflicts between the young members and the leaders are currently plaguing the Muslim Brotherhood, the most organized political power at the moment.
“I believe that if any organization, whether it is official or unofficial, doesn’t open the door for the youth and accept their full participation as decision makers and opinion leaders then they will be nonexistent in the upcoming period,” said Mohamed El-Beltagy, member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“I have repeatedly warned the leaders that if we don’t give an equal opportunity to the young people, we are going to be outrun,” he added.
When asked where the youth are after the referendum on the constitutional amendments, political analyst, Amr Hamzawy, said, “They are here, they are organizing themselves, setting up political parties and [they will be] highly present in the upcoming period,” he said on the talk show Masr Enahrda.
The minimal age for presidential candidacy, which is currently set at 40, is rumored to be modified to give younger people a share in the legislative decisions of the country.
“We have to push for that, but even then 40 represents a young power. But decreasing it would be even better so more young people can participate,” said George.
“Democracy is a process that generates out of debates so if the base is the younger population in Egypt then I’m certain that you will start seeing younger ministers, younger officials, younger MPs and so on; that will be the natural course of things,” said Taher.
“I believe that we should remove the age limit completely; I believe that there shouldn’t be any restrictions. As a liberal I believe that the decision always falls back to the people,” he noted, “If a person is aged 25 and is capable of running and people elect him then we shouldn’t have a rule preventing that.”
The youth’s main tool thus far has been calls for demonstrations and protests, putting pressure on decision makers.
“Things are still developing but I feel the youth’s voice will be heard more in the context of a political party,” said George, pointing out that “the youth are working hard and the political parties will make them stand out.”
He explained that government bodies are currently more willing to listen to what the young people have to say and that the youth’s voice is heard by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces through the Jan. 25 Youth Coalition which negotiates with them.
“But it’s the responsibility of the youth to really work, prove themselves so the people take them seriously, which I predict is what is going to happen.
“They have been oppressed for so long and now is the time to surface,” he concluded.
The youth’s main tool thus far has been calls for demonstrations and protests, putting pressure on decision makers.
