Egypt’s democracy experiment is on the verge of total collapse

Despite a presidential election in which Egyptians participated in record numbers, there are clear indications that the military rulers who have been in power since the resignation of long-time dictator Hosni Mubarak in February aren’t going away any time soon.

In fact, the generals have grabbed sweeping powers that effectively render the next president a figurehead. They have issued a constitutional declaration that makes them the nation’s legislators and gives them control of the budget.

The security apparatus of the country will be under the military’s control, the generals will oversee the writing of Egypt’s new, permanent constitution, and their allies — Mubarak-era officials — continue to hold sway in the judiciary, the prosecutor’s office and the elections commission.

Thus the High Court summarily dissolved parliament, which means the vote of the people has been nullified. A majority of the members of parliament belonged to the Muslim Brotherhood, whose candidate for president, Mohammed Morsi, appears to have won the run-off election against former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.

The results of the election were to have been announced Thursday, but authorities delayed doing so on the ground that hundreds of complaints of voting irregularities had been filed.

The power grab by the military rulers, the dissolution of parliament by justices who had been appointed during Mubarak’s reign and the interference with the presidential election have triggered mass demonstrations by Muslim Brotherhood members and others.

Adding to the tension is the fact that Mubarak is reportedly on his death bed. The former dictator escaped the hangman’s noose in his trial on charges stemming from the death of 800 Egyptians and the injuring of thousands by government forces during last year’s 18-day revolution. He and his exterior minister were sentenced to life in prison.

However, Mubarak was taken to a prison hospital because of a “health crisis.” There are indications that the military rulers want to send Mubarak home to die.

The situation in Egypt is tense, and with the generals refusing to give up power, the fledgling democracy is in on the verge of total collapse.

However, the Muslim Brotherhood isn’t going to sit idly by while the supporters of Hosni Mubarak ignore the will of the people.

While Obama administration officials have said that democracy must have a chance to succeed, the White House has given no indication that it intends to become involved in what is an explosive situation.

Stern warning

Nonetheless, the president can deliver a stern warning to the military rulers that the $2 billion routinely sent by the U.S. to Egypt, much of it for military purposes, will be closely examined if they refuse to let the new president do his job without interference from any of them or the courts.

Indeed, the United States should investigate whether the generals have been fattening their wallets and have established bank accounts in Switzerland, the Cayman Islands and other such havens for the ill-gotten gains of corrupt leaders.

The 800 Egyptians who gave their lives for freedom must not have died in vain. What is happening on the streets of Cairo and other population centers is a clear indication that the people aren’t going to give up their rights without a fight.