Elections and the War of Existence

Salam MakkiThe closer the elections get, the more intense the conflicts, disputes, and even battles become among candidates, voters, political blocs, and parties. The electoral war, so to speak, is about to erupt at any moment. Its sides are not clearly defined; they could be candidates against each other, or voters. Today, months before the elections begin, we witness fierce battles between this and that, a special kind of terrorism practiced by everyone against everyone! Officials demand their employees bring election cards or else... tribes demand their members vote for a single candidate or else... wide political defamation, disputes that occupy public opinion and take up a large space on social media and satellite channels among representatives of competing parties and blocs.Everyone lives in an atmosphere charged with anxiety and cautious anticipation, making you feel like you are heading into a decisive battle, a war of existence or extinction! The elections do not rely on the conditions stipulated by the constitution, which are secrecy and freedom in choosing and candidacy. Unfortunately, the messages that have reached everyone do not suggest that there is freedom in choosing candidates or in nomination, as what we witnessed of intimidation by some social entities suggests that there is terrorism practiced against individuals who intend to run for elections or to vote for whom they consider worthy of their votes.Not to mention making the elections an important station to prove sectarian and confessional existence. Some seek to make their sect stronger and more influential than the other through urging participation in elections, while others do the opposite for different reasons! The point is that talking about elections should seek solutions to punish the failed official and reward the successful one if found! Elections should ideally be an opportunity to remove faces that have done nothing for the citizen and sought wealth at the expense of the homeland and the citizen. But it seems we are completely far from this thinking, as today's talk about elections revolves around victory over this sect or party, to the extent that we almost feel that the elections are a battle between us and the other side, where the winner proves that they are more numerous and stronger than the other! As for providing services and reforming the political situation, there is no place for it in anyone’s dictionary, neither the voter’s nor the candidate’s!!