For the second time this year, the world is watching Egypt with admiration and respect. The nation's people are showing the entire world that they are willing to lead their country to democracy and determine their government themselves. Showing impressive calm and conviction, the population is realizing the right that it fought for with incredible dedication in January and February - and even took to the streets for anew in the past weeks.

For most Egyptians, these are the first free elections they have ever participated in. For decades, they were called to the ballot box, but the voting process was massively manipulated. Opposition parties were hampered or completely excluded from elections and the results were clear from the outset. For 30 years, Hosni Mubarak reigned unchallenged and without any true parliamentary control with the aid of the military and a network of corrupt bureaucrats, just like Anwar al Sadat and Gamal Abdel Nasser before him. All three men emerged from the military and were supported by the armed forces.

These are the same generals who took over after Mubarak's ouster with the promise to lead the country to democracy and ensure security and order in the transitional period. But the military's authoritative and increasingly repressive administration sparked protests which led to mass demonstrations in the past weeks in Cairo, Alexandria, Suez and other cities.

It became clear during these latest bloody riots that Egyptian society is deeply divided. The protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square are no longer the voice of the majority. Many Egyptians are now longing mainly for stability and economic growth, security on the streets and improving living conditions. They object to the recurring demonstrations and the lasting occupation of Tahrir Square. Instead, they are calling for calm to return.

The Muslim Brotherhood is the voice of this majority of the population. It has come to an arrangement with the military council and no longer participates in the protests. The party hopes from the parliamentary elections, which are supposed to last until March 2012, significant support for its position. It wants to form the new Egypt as the dominating force in the country's new parliament.

This is not to the liking of the radical revolutionaries. They have to fear that their rights to freedom, which they fought for so desperately and have by far not been implemented, will be restricted. In view of the massive problems facing Egypt, they also have to worry about the realization of social rights, which they are resolutely calling for as well. Both are directly connected, for democracy cannot function without social justice.

The challenges facing Egyptian society are practically superhuman and a reason for pessimism. In contrast, the peaceful and orderly start of the elections gives hope. All eyes are on Cairo these days with a mixture of concern and admiration and with the hope that the Egyptians will be able to overcome their past, take their fate into their own hands and build up a democratic and just nation.

Author: Bettina Marx / sac
Editor: Michael Knigge