Writers in different newspapers have discussed the Administrative Court’s decision to halt the parliamentary elections, which was initially planned to take place on 22 April, praising the move and stating that it might be a good chance for all conflicting political groups to reach consensus and find a way out of the current political maze.
Those who benefit from police disappearance
Emad Al-Din Hussein
Al-Shorouk newspaper
Hussein debates the issue of security in Egypt amid the recent violent incidents taking place across the country. He starts his column narrating how a group of youths from the Abdeen district closed off the two intersecting streets that lead to the Ministry of Interior. In the same day, the writer heard about how the flat of one of his close friends have been stolen and misused by a number of thieves.
The security vacuum in Egypt nowadays reminds Hussein of the 18 days of the 2011 Revolution, when police forces decided to withdraw from the streets to pressure people to accept their inhumane treatment. In the writer’s viewpoint, Egyptians care first about security before calling for bread and freedom.
The deteriorating security situation in the country threatens that the armed forces might come back to control the streets. Hussein also believes that the spread of chaos will drive people to forget about 25 January Revolution’s objectives. As many police stations have recently announced that they have shut down in protest of their unfulfilled demands, Hussein calls upon the honourable police officers to resume their work and encourage their colleagues to protect the country.
The chance
Amro Khafagy
Al-Shorouk newspaper
Khafagy praises the latest court verdict that stopped the parliamentary elections from taking place in April. He states that the chance has come for all conflicting political groups to end the exhausting political crisis and move forward with the country. As for President Mohamed Morsi, Khafagy believes that the largest responsibility lies on his shoulders as to how to benefit from this move.
The writer commends the presidency for not submitting an appeal against the court ruling to delay the elections. He thinks that the best step might be to form a national salvation government, not only because the opposition has requested this, but also since the situation in Egypt is uncontrollable.
As for the opposition, the columnist calls upon prominent opposition leaders and asks them to review their policies without leaving behind fundamental issues such as the integrity of votes and the neutrality of who supervises the elections.
Khafagy states that while Egypt needs a strong cabinet, it also needs a similarly strong opposition. And between the three sides; the president, the opposition and the legislature, a political test continues to examine the extent to which they are dedicated to Egypt.
Except for the police, my master
Emad Al-Din Adeeb
Al-Watan newspaper
Adeeb was filled with fear as he read about the strike announced by many police officers, the columnist writes. In his viewpoint, the majority of policemen and soldiers have tolerated a lot of difficulties and challenges as a result of the weak governmental performance over the span of the past 30 years.
Adeeb relates the authorities’ performance to the police institution, arguing that the more the government fails in delivering the people’s needs, the more pressure lies over the police.
The failures of all the political solutions have lead many to think that the only predicament now remains in the security vacuum. This situation reminds Adeeb of Egypt after the 1952 coup d’état. The police institution is now vulnerable to massive pressures stemming from internal and external forces.
Adeeb condemns how many Egyptians have apparently agreed to weaken the police apparatus, probably as revenge. The writer reminds the readers of 28 January 2011, when the police withdrew from the streets and chaos spread in many neighbourhoods. He calls upon Egyptians to affirm the police as the backbone of security in the country, and nobody should contribute to its weakness.
