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| Constituent Assembly election, 2011 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Constituent Assembly election, 2011 |
| Date | 2011 |
| Type | Constituent Assembly |
| Seats for election | Constituent Assembly seats |
Constituent Assembly election, 2011
The 2011 Constituent Assembly election was a pivotal nationwide poll to select representatives charged with drafting a new constitution, following mass protests and political transition involving major figures such as Mohamed Morsi, Hosni Mubarak, Rachid Ghannouchi, Ben Ali, and organizations including Muslim Brotherhood, Ennahda Movement, National Transitional Council, and People's Movement for Change. The vote intersected with regional upheavals represented by Arab Spring, Tahrir Square, Jasmine Revolution, February 17 Revolution, and drew intense attention from international bodies like the United Nations, European Union, African Union, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and Amnesty International.
Political turmoil preceding the election included protests led by activists associated with Khaled Said, Wael Ghonim, Alaa Abdel-Fattah, Lina Ben Mhenni, and networks such as April 6 Youth Movement, Tunisian General Labour Union, and National Salvation Front. The ouster of leaders like Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali catalyzed transitional arrangements overseen by entities including the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, Interim Government, National Electoral Commission, and legal reforms influenced by courts such as the Supreme Constitutional Court. Previous constitutional frameworks like the 1952 Constitution and commissions modeled on work by Constitutional Assembly of Tunisia 1959 informed drafting mechanisms and debates involving jurists from Cairo University, Al-Azhar University, Cairo Bar Association, and international advisers from International Crisis Group and International IDEA.
The electoral mechanism combined proportional representation and majoritarian elements as adapted from systems used in countries such as Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. Seat allocation rules were debated with reference to legal norms from the Electoral Law, the Independent High Electoral Commission, and comparative practice from the United Kingdom and United States. Districting invoked municipal authorities in cities like Cairo, Alexandria, Sfax, and Tunis while voter registration relied on civil registries maintained by ministries such as the Ministry of Interior and statistical offices akin to those in Turkey and Morocco. Quota discussions referenced gender parity measures advanced in Rwanda and South Africa.
Major political forces included Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood and Ennahda Movement, secular parties like the Wafd Party, Nasserist Party, Congress for the Republic, socialist organizations including the Socialist Party and Workers' Party, and liberal organizations such as the Free Egyptians Party and Constitution Party. Campaign strategies featured rallies in locales including Tahrir Square, Habib Bourguiba Avenue, and university campuses like Cairo University and University of Tunis. Media coverage came from broadcasters like Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, Al Arabiya, France 24, and newspapers such as Al-Ahram and Le Monde Diplomatique. Civil society actors including Human Rights Watch, Transparency International, Elections Observers Network, and youth groups from Ikhwan-affiliated networks engaged in mobilization and voter education.
Security arrangements involved personnel from national forces such as the Egyptian Armed Forces, Tunisian National Guard, local police units, and international training assistance from agencies like United States Agency for International Development and the European Union Police Mission. Incidents at polling stations in cities like Suez, Ben Arous, and Giza prompted responses by bodies including the National Council for Human Rights and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Legal disputes over candidate eligibility were adjudicated in courts analogous to the Constitutional Court and civil tribunals with interventions by legal NGOs including the Arab Network for Human Rights Information.
Preliminary tallies showed significant representation for parties such as the Muslim Brotherhood affiliates and coalitions involving the Ennahda Movement alongside notable pluralities for secular coalitions including the Forces of the Left and liberal groupings like the Free Egyptians Party. Turnout patterns revealed strong participation in urban centers including Cairo and Tunis and varied engagement in rural provinces comparable to turnout differentials observed in Yemen and Jordan. Post-election lists were certified by the Independent High Electoral Commission and published following validation procedures similar to those used by the United Nations Development Programme in post-conflict elections.
The assembly convened to draft a new constitution involving prominent legal scholars from institutions such as Ain Shams University, University of Tunis El Manar, and international experts connected with Constitution-Building Support Division of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs. Debates covered provisions analogous to constitutional items in the French Fifth Republic, German Basic Law, and Spanish Constitution concerning rights, separation of powers, and judiciary structure. Protests and counterprotests emerged near landmarks like Tahrir Square and Habib Bourguiba Avenue, while negotiated settlements involved mediators from the Quartet and diplomatic envoys from the United States Department of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (France).
International observer missions included delegations from the European Union Election Observation Mission, the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the African Union, and civil society monitors from Carter Center and National Democratic Institute. Reactions ranged from praise by delegations similar to those led by former statesmen involved in Nobel Peace Prize circles to criticism from human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch regarding freedom of assembly and media access. Diplomatic statements were issued by governments of the United States, France, Germany, Turkey, and regional bodies like the Gulf Cooperation Council and Arab League.
Category:2011 elections