The power* - Snap!

There was a huge protest in Egypt earlier this week - it is reported that tens of thousands of people came out to protest against the act of their new President in giving himself power.

Pic obtained from BBC News Online

It is so ironic as Egypt faught hard to overthrow President Mubarak only just last year. The protestors are quoted to say that they do not want another dictatorship.

It is also ironic as President Mursi was seend last week taking a big role in brokering a ceasefire between Isreal and Palestine - although in my view, he seemed to be clearly anti-Israel at the start. I was in the UK and following the news closely daily. So there he was criticising others when he cannot handle his own country?

Some say that the power is necessary for him to protect the country - but the manner he has gone about doing it left much to be desired.

Here is a summary of the powers he gave himself (taken from BBC News Online) -

• Reopen investigations into killings of protesters; retrials of those accused 
• No appeals against constitutional decrees made since Mursi came to power 
• President to appoint the public prosecutor (must be aged at least 40) 
• Constituent assembly to get two months extra to draft new constitution 
• No judicial authority can dissolve the constituent assembly or the upper house of parliament (Shura Council) 
• President authorised to take any measures to preserve the revolution or safeguard national security 

 It does seem wide, doesn't it?

Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Why is it that so many huge decisions are left with just one person? At the end of the day, the power in a democratic country should lie in the hands of the people. The people have spoken - well, tens of thousands of them. Will they be heard?

*A huge international hit for this German music group.