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1 1 (January 15, 2006)

handle is hein.crs/crsajav0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Order Code RS22274 Updated January 15, 2006 CRS Report for Congress Received through the CRS Web Egypt: 2005 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Jeremy M. Sharp Middle East Policy Analyst Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Summary In 2005, Egypt conducted two sets of elections that illustrate both the opportunities and challenges for U.S. democracy promotion policy in the Middle East. On September 7, 2005, Egypt conducted its first multi-candidate presidential election, resulting in the reelection of President Hosni Mubarak with 88% of the vote. Although some have credited Egypt for holding a competitive election, many have criticized the outcome and alleged fraud. Parliamentary elections in Egypt resulted in the ruling NDP party securing an overwhelming majority of seats but also saw independent candidates affiliated with the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood winning nearly 20% of seats, a dramatic gain from previous elections. This report provides an overview of both elections and their implications for U.S. policy. For more information on Egypt, see CRS Report RL33003, Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations, by Jeremy M. Sharp. Background In recent years, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) have faced growing criticism, both domestically and internationally, regarding limited progress on political liberalization. One frequently cited obstacle to reform had been the indirect presidential election process, in which a candidate was nominated and confirmed by the NDP-controlled People's Assembly (lower house of parliament) and then approved in a nationwide yes or no referendum, which was thought to be manipulated by authorities. With the past four referendums without a competitor routinely resulting in Mubarak receiving anywhere from 93% to 98% yes votes, the process was widely viewed at home and abroad as illegitimate and was perceived as an anachronism in the eyes of younger Egyptians. The recent publicity surrounding elections in Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the West Bank & Gaza Strip only heightened this perception, as Egypt, the largest Arab country, appeared out of step with the trend in the Arab world. In addition, Egypt's ruling elite has been gradually undergoing a generational shift, in which a new faction of young, media-savvy, and Western-educated leaders within the NDP (led by the President's son, Gamal Mubarak) has attempted to reinvigorate political culture in order to modernize the NDP' s image without having to relinquish the party's grip on power. Congressional Research Service + The Library of Congress

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