The joint declaration by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister David Cameron, calling for a “broad-based government” and “free and fair elections” in Egypt stands in stark contrast to the embarrassed silence that was heard at the outset of Tunisia’s democratic uprising. It is still too soon, however, to conclude that Europeans have finally overcome their fear of Arab democracy and will not be tempted to accept milder forms of “liberal authoritarianism” should the crisis drag on or a military takeover occur.
德国总理安格拉•默克尔、法国总统尼古拉·萨科奇和英国首相大卫·卡梅伦呼吁在埃及成立“广泛的联合政府”并举行“自由及公正选举”的号召与突尼斯民主起义初期令人尴尬的沉默形成了鲜明的对比。 不过，如果这场危机继续发展或爆发军事政变，认为欧洲人已经克服对阿拉伯民主政权的恐惧心理、不会甘心接受形式温和的“开明专制”则未免显得缺乏依据。