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Jane Harman on what will happen as Egyptians head to the polls for country's 2nd round presidential election
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We begin this today this question -- Egypt become a representative democracy and we have breaking news just momentarily out of Cairo.
Here is by the way -- -- -- voting for a new president there and there's a rulings by Egypt's constitutional court that dissolve.
The Islamic dominated parliament and allow Hosni Mubarak's last prime minister to continue.
In the presidential race -- and it is this amounts to -- quote complete.
Cool and that's a quote from former presidential candidate -- in right now Jane Harman she is director president and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson Center there in DC and that is where.
-- is currently so good to have you such a distinguished as and what a perfect time to have you here because.
As you know the right not Jane is happening -- June 16 and seventeenth with this new information out this morning from Egypt how does that.
Impact the -- up.
Well I'm from California and I would call -- a seismic -- this is an earthquake in Egypt.
And it's hard to know whether this is game -- game over.
I was there just a few weeks ago as one of the two US official monitors in addition to the Carter center of the first round of the presidential election and the procedures were considered fair although the two most polarizing candidates are in the runoff.
Now with this decision everything is up for grabs it's really unclear to me.
Whether this election this weekend can proceed because one of the candidates.
Who is the Muslim Brotherhood candidate has been running as a member of parliament.
And a hundred seats in the parliament have just been -- disqualified by this ruling so.
It's not clear whether Egypt has -- parliament it's not clear -- it the affect on me just constituted constitutional assembly.
And it's not clear what the effect will be on the two candidates who are supposed to run in the election.
On this Saturday and Sunday against two days from now.
And come this week -- and of course the idea is to have a new president sitting come July 1.
You where the error -- that we think you said there and it seems that the people were very much.
The people of Egypt were very very much.
Creeping forward democracy -- do you think.
What if you're not they're understanding your DC but they do you had any idea any -- from New York -- people on the ground they are currently.
Do you have any idea how this particular news is resonating with the people there.
Well I have to imagine there will be a lot of popular anger interestingly yesterday the military the supreme council of the armed forces -- gaffe.
Imposed what everyone is calling martial law they're putting the military in the streets -- federal buildings have been fenced off.
In sixteen months ago -- almost eighteen months ago with the popular uprising a lot of the buildings were.
Looted and burned so this time they'll be the military in the streets they were supposed to safeguard the election but.
Now we have coming up on election if it.
Goes ahead between one candidate who was Mubarak's last prime minister in very close to Mubarak and another candidate.
Who was at least until this decision.
A member of Egypt's parliament and the muscle brotherhood candidate.
With the military in the streets that's why people are calling this a back door -- -- They okay so big big but the Muslim -- rather -- Muslim brother -- candidate he -- may no longer be a member of parliament he's but he still a presidential candidate correct.
I wouldn't think so I don't know how the egyptians think about this.
He is basis for running was as a member of parliament.
But hey I don't know that Egyptian law disqualifies him automatically because he may not be a member of the parliament because they may not be a parliament.
Or he may be one of the people elected according to a party slate that's what's been invalidated a hundred.
Members of the multi hundred member parliament have been invalidated -- that may the blow up the whole parliament.
But.
All these questions are open I would guess if you have a picture of carrier square.
-- you'll get that in real time soon we will see a lot of egyptians coming into the street.
Who have.
Big questions about this event.
What is so sad is that.
In.
Just a few months ago in January of last year.
This is so called revolution occurred.
Led by a a grassroots broad grassroots movement and here we -- day with the military in the streets.
With the Supreme Court which most people agree was -- -- -- you know in the last days with Mubarak's people.
I'm making a decision than many may not be able to accept.
And with an election.
Between two candidates both of whom -- polarizing.
Figures in two days and I don't think anyone.
It just a seventeen months ago could've predicted this outcome.
And and you you'd characterize their latest set of circumstances it's sad and that's exactly what I was thinking that it has to be.
Extremely disappointing for the people -- who thought they were making some sort of progress.
And tell me about did this aspect of it because as it -- and my understanding is that even without today's news having the two candidates out there one being former prime minister for under Mubarak and one being a Muslim Brotherhood candidates already it appeared that they of the folks there -- sort of voting.
Against a candidate as opposed to for someone I.
Well at this the choice is very stark the choice is between what what they call a -- rule that say.
Someone from -- Mubarak -- administration and then and I play a very active.
Muslim Brotherhood party.
Member.
Many candidates more in the middle who could've been a bridge.
I ran in -- in the -- original election of one I've served a few weeks ago and it was fascinating to see the long lines of people.
Women and kids and man talking about this with me on the first their first ever vote for freedom they had voted for the parliament.
But this was the first vote for a president of their country in 7000.
Years and most of us -- around then to participate so I I mean it's it was an extraordinary thing an extraordinary promise democracy is hard.
It took our country thirteen years between our revolution in our real organization between 1776.
And 1789.
To set up a functioning republic.
And we should give Egypt time but I just hope and -- forward can be found here.
And what does not happen.
Is a a very grim and bloody.
And imposition of martial law by the Egypt's military that that's an outcome.
Even the military said it didn't want when -- met -- -- just a a few short weeks ago OK so -- Okay let's say doesn't seem that obviously you would like this to move forward of course you want the best for the people of Egypt but.
Perhaps not feeling as hopeful at this moment given that the current events that have taken place -- to feel hopeful -- -- but if if there is safe.
An election of president between these these two they're they're stark choices this weekend neither the -- Muslim Brotherhood candidate or in the last Mubarak prime minister if someone is elected.
If there is relative peace if somehow that person sees as a mandate to unite the country move forward and sensible decisions are made about a constitutional assembly fully reflective of the Egyptian people certainly including women and of the parliament somehow.
Can.
-- adjust to this Supreme Court decision and may be have to replace a hundred people but not dissolve.
Maybe there is a way forward of course Egypt the decisions the egyptians must make I have no right.
I hear even as you know former nine term member of United States congress to.
To make -- these decisions for the Egyptian people but our country has said we will support.
A candidate.
There were -- who is the resign who was elected as a result of of affair a democratic election and obviously.
What I would hope.
Egypt would choose is.
The democratic pluralism.
In a way to.
To find tolerance respect for the Muslim religion which is the dominant religion there -- tolerance for other religions.
-- and the inclusion of women rights and and a way to rebuild what is that an economy in in tatters at the moment so again you certainly don't want to impose your political position on that -- that that situation or or the people of Egypt but.
Given what you know and let's say they do move forward with it with an election runoff -- this weekend.
Which of those candidates based and what -- -- big been.
Presenting would be better for the people.
-- well it it has to be their choice I think both candidates have been trying to explain why they are the better choice and why they are.
The candidate they can unite the country in the egyptians have heard those arguments and and will make their own decisions I'm really not -- Respond to that question but what I hope for.
Is that the dreams of the Egyptian people are realized at the Wilson Center we had a panel recently and someone said.
That this Arab awakening across the whole region is the birth of the Arab citizen.
Madison what I think we we should hope comes out of this that that the people of these countries.
For the first time have real participation in their government.
They make the decisions for the government's thing -- and hopefully they do that with respect for.
For each other not just -- respect for.
One gender or one religion I understand that Jane -- -- -- the report due -- you could somehow answer this for me concisely.
So so based on what happened today in Cairo.
So you're saying that now that suddenly 100 members of parliament are just out and it it is it how can you possibly.
Move forward with the an election this weekend.
With we've -- those members having gone.
Well this is -- election for parliament this is an election for president and and another part of that decision or in our second decision wasn't both candidates.
Can run shot -- who was the last prime minister in the Mubarak.
Administration.
Was that was the fellow who might be disqualified he wasn't -- -- -- so there are two candidates.
But there are other issues that relate to this in as I said at the beginning of the broadcast I think the question is is this game on -- game over not just for this election in this election coming up in two days for the democratic or -- -- experiment here our democracy.
Boy.
-- -- Jane Harman thank you so much for a year in -- to have really appreciate your time thank you very much.
