Why America Should Pay Attention to Egypt's Elections

Anyone frustrated with the current state of American politics should look to recent electoral troubles in Egypt for some comparison. The Egyptian people—represented by potentially more than a hundred political parties—hope to participate in the country's first legitimate, democratic elections in decades, an endeavor proving to be increasingly contentious in the aftermath of the nation's historic revolution.

While Egypt's presidential elections won't take place until at least next year, the country's parliamentary elections are scheduled to start on November 28. Both in process and outcome, those elections will be vital for Egypt's future. Not only will they decide who's in charge of drafting a new constitution following the fall of a longtime ruler, former President Hosni Mubarek; the elections will also weigh heavily on the future of U.S. relations with Egypt, which has been an important strategic ally in the Middle East region.

[See political cartoons on the Middle East uprisings.]

"Egypt is a country that matters significantly. It has a disproportionate impact on the future of the broader Middle East, so we certainly have an interest in having Egypt as an ally of the United States and continuing to have that relationship," says Ohio Republican Rep. Steve Chabot, chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia. "The outcome of the election is important, and we should look at it very closely."

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta visited Egypt on Tuesday, the latest outreach from top U.S. administration officials to Egypt's current military rulers, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces or SCAF, which will oversee the elections before presumably handing control back to civilians. While careful to stay out of the politics, the Obama administration has been vocal with Egypt's military leaders in promoting free, transparent, and fair elections, which experts say is the first step in preserving American interests in the region. Though beyond messaging, American policymakers are also looking ahead to determine how they can retain influence in Egypt if—and likely when—certain groups like the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamist organization, gain power.

The $1.3 billion in foreign military aid is perhaps the strongest card that the United States can play in guiding a sound electoral process. Several members of Congress have proposed withholding aid should the upcoming elections not meet certain standards of transparency. The Senate's State Department appropriations bill for 2012, which passed through committee last month, for example, includes a contingency that "funds further the national interests of both countries," and that the Egyptian government holds "free and fair elections" and implements "policies to protect due process and freedoms of expression and association.""The Egyptian people have made themselves clear, and Egypt's military leaders have agreed, about the need for Democratic elections and other basic freedoms," said Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, who chairs the subcommittee responsible for the bill, in a statement. "Going forward, the days of blank checks are over, and it is in the mutual interest of the Egyptian people and the United States to reinforce these rights as conditions for our aid."

The Obama administration, however, has vowed to try to convince Congress to protect Egypt's aid. Last week, after meeting with Egypt's foreign minister, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton emphasized the administration's commitment. "We are against conditionality," she said. "We believe that the long-standing relationship between the United States and Egypt is of paramount importance to both of us. We support the democratic transition, and we don't want to do anything that in any way draws into question our relationship or our support."

[See photos of the Obamas abroad.]

Americans and other nations have put pressure on Egypt's military to allow international monitoring of the elections. According to the latest agreement between political parties and the military, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, foreign entities will be allowed to "view and follow" the elections, but the more involved election "monitoring" will still be prohibited to protect Egypt's sovereignty.