Non-competitive but necessary and historic elections in Yemen

By Nasser Arrabyee,07/02/2012

The early presidential elections on February 21st, will be almost the last major step for Yemenis to move to the new  Yemen.

 A new President will be elected, and a new  reign will start. 

On Tuesday, February 7th, 2012, the Vice President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, launched his election campaign in a big gathering in Sanaa attended by senior State  officials, ministers, members of parliaments and Arab and international diplomats.

 Mr Hadi will be the  only candidate as it was agreed by all conflicting parties and approved by the parliament and highly welcomed by the international community as the only possible solution  for longstanding crisis.

"The February 21 elections will be the way out from the crisis that was nearly to turn to a civil war," said Mr Hadi in his first rally.

"The elections will be the first step towards the good and safe future," he added.

After elections, Mr Hadi said a comprehensive national dialogue will be opened and no one would be excluded from that dialogue. 

All political issues will be addressed including the most difficult two: the rebellion attempts in the south and in the north, which locally are  known as  Hirak and Houthi.

"There will be no red lines in the dialogue," Hadi said referring that  all groups would participate.

Abdul Kareem Al Eryani, the second man in President Saleh's party said," the February 21 elections will not only be confirming the principle of peaceful transfer of power and confirming the constitutional legitimacy, but it will also be the solution of the crisis."

And the prime minister, Mohammed Salem Ba Sundaw, who was representing the opposition in that rally, said," the February 21 is the day of the peaceful transfer of power, so we should recognize the reality and vote for Mr Hadi."

In a common statement issued on the same day,  the  five ambassadors of the permanent  members of Security Council and ambassadors of EU and ambassadors of the gulf countries in Sanaa  called on Yemenis to do their best for making the elections a success. 

On his part, the outgoing President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who is currently in a short visit in US for medical treatments, repeatedly said on Tuesday February 7th, 2012, that he will return to Sanaa to participate in the installation ceremony of his deputy Mr Hadi.

Almost every one in Yemen  is looking forward to that historic date despite concerns and worries of possible violence to thwart such an internationally,regionally, and nationally supported step to end the one-year political crisis. 

Al Qaeda among the groups that refuse the elections and try to keep the chaos as a guarantee for them to continue. But crackdown is at its highest level.

 Although the elections will be not competitive  because only one consensus candidate will be running, but the majority of Yemenis see the step as the only possible way to  transfer the power peacefully. 

They say it's a great and unprecedented lesson to be learnt by the coming generations.

 If it's bad,it is avoiding Yemen the worst, which is the war over who will rule and why this or that person?