The eyes of the world are now on Yemen where presidential elections take place Tuesday and the candidate is Vice President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi, the one and only candidate of national reconciliation. These elections are being held in accordance with the Gulf initiative which was modified several times before Ali Abdullah Saleh signed it in Riyadh last November. After the initiative was signed, the authority of the president of Yemen was transferred to the vice president. These elections come after a very difficult year of severe challenges for Yemen during which widespread protests called for the overthrow of Saleh's regime which had remained in power for 30 years. The unrest in the country has led to shortages in power, water, food and fuel, with calls being made by some international aid organizations for assistance to feed the Yemeni people. The year-long protests, the signing of the Gulf initiative and the presidential elections represent an important chapter in the modern history of Yemen. These elections should lead to a new political and social life if they are conducted honestly and should lead to domestic stability in Yemen, which will reflect positively on Yemen's neighbors including the Kingdom. A stable Yemen means a stable Kingdom and vice versa. These elections come at a time full of political disputes among parties and the disruption of the country's governmental services due to the lack of security in some parts of the country. If successful and transparent, the elections should build a new Yemen. With the secession movement in the south and the problem of the Houthis in the north, the important question is: Will the presidential elections succeed in ushering in a new, secure, modern life for Yemen and for the long-suffering Yemeni people, or will they take Yemen back to square one, especially in light of the recent return of Saleh to the country? __
