Nibbles of democracy on the Nile

CSMonitor editorialized n the four years since Sept. 11, President Bush's goal of suppressing terrorism by pushing democracy in the Middle East has had few triumphs. Last week, the largest Arab nation, Egypt, held its first multiparty presidential election, a very limited one, on its leader's own terms. Guess what? Three of four Egyptians didn't vote.

Those who did vote were either corralled or coerced to vote for President Hosni Mubarak, who "won" with 88.6 percent of the ballot. After 24 years in power, Mr. Mubarak's latter-day attempt to inject a small bit of competition into government didn't exactly result in a mandate for his rule. Egyptians voted with their feet by not walking to the polls. Even with Mubarak opponents on the ballot, many knew the system was still rigged.

If the Mubarak regime is really trying to jump-start an Egyptian-style democracy, voter turnout last Wednesday signaled it is so far failing. Much more needs to be done, and quickly, to create the elements of democracy: full civil liberties, equal enforcement of justice, freedom of assembly, media access for the political opposition, no harassment of voters, etc. Such measures, at root, are a sign that a leader really respects the governed rather than simply looks for respect.

Many did not vote because they realized this election was rigged, but the idea of the people selecting their leaders has been introduced, and I strongly suspect that in the next election they will demand, and get, a better choice of candidates. Egypt may not yet be democratic; but you don't put that genie back in the bottle.