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In a recent address, Egyptian TV host Magdy Tantawy said that Arab society was not ready for democracy in any way. "We need a strong ruler - who is more like a dictator, but is just," said Tantawy, deputy editor-in-chief of Al-Gomhuria daily, speaking on the Egyptian Al-Assema TV channel on Aug 28, 2015.
Following are excerpts:
Magdy Tantawy: I might get some people upset, but our nation is as far as can be from democracy in its true sense.
[...]
The January 25 Revolution erupted in order to overthrow the Mubarak regime. But what did it bring in tow? Chaos. A destructive chaos. We witnessed this chaos. It engulfed everything. To this day, we are still suffering the consequences of that chaos.
[...]
I am inclined towards the democracy preached by Imam Muhammad Abduh - a democracy protected by a [military] force, or, to be more precise, a just dictator. We need a strong ruler - who is more like a dictator, but is just. He has to be consistently just. This is what I wish for. I am among the staunchest opponents of democracy in our Arab societies. Our Arab societies are not ready for democracy in any way.
[...]
I am not saying that Sisi is a dictator. I will never accept a dictator, unless he is a just one.
[...]
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