Arab voter apathy

[mawilson 2,133]

Arab voter apathy

Published: September 11 2007 19:38 | Last updated: September 11 2007 19:38

Most of the Middle East’s autocrats are no longer even pretending to be interested in

democracy, now that the US has all but abandoned its “freedom agenda” in the region.

The spate of elections seen in 2005 has slowed. Where polls are still held in the Arab

world, moreover, it is the voters who have stopped pretending. In a long overdue

indictment of the political system, their message is that they will no longer waste their

time – or their votes – on toothless parliaments and electoral charades. Nor will they

allow regimes to use their votes just to legitimise their rule.

Last week’s elections in Morocco, a country where the king holds the real power but

allows parties to compete freely for a feeble parliament, tell the story: only 37 per cent

of voters turned up to cast their ballots – a record low.

Voters in neighbouring Algeria, where power has shifted away from the military only to

become concentrated in the presidency, are equally disenchanted. In the May legislative

poll, only 35 per cent voted – again the lowest percentage in the country’s history. Few

Egyptians, meanwhile, bothered to turn up for the March constitutional referendum in

which the regime of President Hosni Mubarak shamelessly called on voters to give it

extra powers to repress. The official turnout was 27 per cent; the opposition estimated

real turnout at about 10 per cent.

There are, of course, many reasons for voters’ apathy, including widespread perceptions

that much of the political class is co-opted, if not corrupt. Even Morocco’s Islamist Justice

and Development party, which campaigned on the promise of social justice and transparent

government, failed to make a strong impression on voters. (It won only 46 seats in the

325-member assembly, coming in second to the traditional conservative Istiqlal party).

The fundamental problem is that voters believe their voices do not matter. In Morocco,

after all, King Mohammed VI ignored the results of the 2002 elections and named a prime

minister who belonged to none of the winning parties. Voters across the region are also

dismayed by western reaction when elections are fair – they watched Palestinians being

punished for choosing the Islamist Hamas.

King Mohammed, the young Moroccan monarch, may have shown some reformist credentials,

pushing through, for example, a personal status law that improved the rights of women.

But the lesson he – and other rulers – should draw from the waning popular enthusiasm

for polls is that voters want genuine change. A democratic façade will no longer do.

The Financial Times

[almaty 19]

sounds like they are adopting western standards even apathy

Edited September 12, 2007 by almaty

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Last week’s elections in Morocco, a country where the king holds the real power but

allows parties to compete freely for a feeble parliament, tell the story: only 37 per cent

of voters turned up to cast their ballots – a record low.

Voters in neighbouring Algeria, where power has shifted away from the military only to

become concentrated in the presidency, are equally disenchanted. In the May legislative

poll, only 35 per cent voted – again the lowest percentage in the country’s history.

Well, at least the US is not the only country where people don't bother anymore...

[mybackpages 0]

How does a low voter turnout in Morocco reflect Arab apathy when 60% of the country is not Arab?

[Carolyn 1]

Why would you push for democracy when that can cause hardship on your family (in the least) or imprisonment and even execution? (Read about Mehdi Ben Barka if you are interested). Fear is a big deterrent.

Change is not so simple when you don't have freedom of speech and press.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

It's not their apathy I'm worried about.... it's their OUTRAGE that has me nervous.

[mawilson 2,133]

How does a low voter turnout in Morocco reflect Arab apathy when 60% of the country is not Arab?

How so?

Population

33,241,259 (July 2006 est.)

Berbers 45% (of which Arabized 24%)

Arab 44%

Moors 10%

other 1% (2000) [3]

24% plus 44% is 68% - Arabs and "Arabized" non-Arabs, whatever that means.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I'm guessing non-ethnic-Arabs who now speak Arabic as their native tongue.

[mawilson 2,133]

I'm guessing non-ethnic-Arabs who now speak Arabic as their native tongue.

Well you know what they say - if it walks like an Arab and quacks like an Arab...

[almaty 19]

I'm guessing non-ethnic-Arabs who now speak Arabic as their native tongue.

Well you know what they say - if it walks like an Arab and quacks like an Arab...

no flames here..as i know and understand your humor brother ma...........

Edited September 12, 2007 by almaty

[Carolyn 1]

Berbers from Morocco will INSIST that they are not Arabs (though they may speak Arabic if they are educated or grew up in cities).

[mawilson 2,133]

Berbers from Morocco will INSIST that they are not Arabs (though they may speak Arabic if they are educated or grew up in cities).

Even the "Arabized" ones?

[trailmix 77]

How does a low voter turnout in Morocco reflect Arab apathy when 60% of the country is not Arab?

Because 'Moroccan voter apathy' isn't a catchy headline?

[coolred38 0]

They dont vote cause they know the current king, dictator, military leader who couped his way into power....will do exactly as he wants regardless of how it affects his people....

That pic of "angry Muslim guy" seems to pop up everwhere...does he have a business card or something?