Effetto domino in Egitto

Almeno in prospettiva - e comunque, naturalmente, la guerra in Irak è stata inutile e sbagliata, e poi non c'era l'O.K. dell'ONU e della Francia, e Prodi è tuttora fieramente contrario, e dieci imbecilli dal template nero su dieci ci ricordano che anche in Vietnam si erano tenute "libere elezioni", etc. etc...

Mubarak orders direct presidential elections in Egypt

CAIRO (AFP) - President Hosni Mubarak said he had told parliament to amend Egypt's constitution to allow direct presidential elections in which anyone can stand and all citizens can vote by secret ballot.

The announcement, welcomed by the opposition as a first step, comes amid US pressure on Egypt to accelerate democratic reform and follows months of unprecedented protests in which demonstrators have denounced the likelihood of Mubarak being elected to a fifth six-year term.

In a televised speech, Mubarak hailed what he called an historic move signalling a new era of political reform. He said he had asked the constitution to be amended before May in time for the next presidential election.

"I took this initiative to open a new era of reform," said the 76-year-old Mubarak who has ruled Egypt since his predecessor Anwar Sadat was assassinated in 1981. Under the current system, parliament elects a single candidate for the presidency by a two-thirds majority, whose name is then put to a referendum.

The move would "for the first time in Egyptian history, allow everyone who is able and willing to serve the fatherland ... to present their candidacy for direct election as president of the republic."

(continua)

Certo, si tratta solo di un primo passo formale; certo, bisognerà vedere come potranno muoversi realmente i candidati; certo, esiste il pericolo (qui sì, a differenza che in Irak) di elezioni-farsa: ma è pur sempre un primo passo nella giusta direzione - e poi la libertà è strana: ne concedi un dito, tanto per dare un contentino, e va a finire che le persone si prendono tutto il braccio...