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Arab Liberal leaders, Experts Discuss Role of Opposition Parties in Cairo

Senior members of Arab liberal political parties attended a conference in Cairo on July 13, 2008 titled "The Role of Liberal Opposition Parties in the Arab World: Challenges and Perspectives". The one-day event was organized by the Regional Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF) in cooperation with the Network of Arab Liberals (NAL). Political experts and politicians made presentations and discussed the constitutional, legal, political and social framework of liberal politics in the Arab world. In their papers, the experts referred to numerous political and legal restrictions and constraints that prevent the liberal forces from coming anywhere close to governmental power in this part of the world. Speakers from Morocco and Lebanon mentioned that in their country the situation for liberal parties is better than in other Arab nations and that their governments are not as restrictive as elsewhere in the region.


Adressing the Conference is Mr. Mohamed Moustafa Sherdy, MP, Wafd Party, together with Ambassador Nagui El Ghatrifi (Al Ghad Party) and Dr. Mustafa El Fiky, MP, National Democratic Party

"We Need Political Education"

Presenters also argued that in many Arab countries the people "on the road" are unaware of liberal principles and values or do not understand them. Said Mr. Mohamed Mustafa Sherdy, Member of Parliament for the Egyptian Wafd Party: "We need political education. If you talk to the Egyptians about liberalism they will ask what it means." Political liberalism is also weakened by internal divisions: In several Arab countries more than one political party supporting liberal positions exist. It was argued that in some cases authoritarian regimes are fanning internal divisiveness in order to weaken the liberal forces.

In the final discussion, the participants agreed to two conclusions: First, liberalism as a political concept and program needs to be redefined in an Arab context so that it may become conceivable for a majority of Arabs "in the street". Second – to quote Beshir Abd El Fattah from the Egyptian Democracy magazine – "the citizens have to understand that liberalism has a direct impact on their lives".

At the end of the well-attended conference the FNF’s Regional Director Dr. Ronald Meinardus said: "Promoting liberal politics is an uphill battle in many parts of this world. I am impressed at the dedication with which our Arab political friends are pushing for political freedom."

 
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Liberty in Egypt : www.fnst-egypt.org