Three presidential elections in the Middle East will shape regional politics for the foreseeable future. The shape of things to come, however, appears to be a continuation of the region’s undemocratic status quo, with little promise of a movement toward genuine democracy that so many hoped and clamored for during the heady days of the now almost-forgotten Arab Spring.
Egyptians go to the polls on May 26-27, to be followed shortly by Syria’s presidential elections on June 3. This will be followed by Turkey’s presidential elections on Aug. 10. Turkey’s elections — when Turks will for the first time elect their president, who was previously elected by parliament directly — will undoubtedly comply with Western democratic standards, unlike those in Egypt and Syria.
