Posted on 02/26/2005 3:04:33 AM PST by Jet Jaguar
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Saturday ordered a revision of the country's election laws, signaling an openness to holding a contested presidential election, a scenario Mubarak hasn't faced since becoming the country's leader in 1981.
In his surprise announcement, Mubarak said the country needed "more freedom and democracy," responding to critics' calls for political reform in Egypt.
"The election of a president will be through direct, secret balloting, giving the chance for political parties to run for the presidential elections and providing guarantees that allow more than one candidate for the people to choose among them with their own will," Mubarak said in an address broadcast live on Egyptian television.
Mubarak - who has never faced an opponent since becoming president after the 1981 assassination of Anwar Sadat - said his initiative came "out of my full conviction of the need to consolidate efforts for more freedom and democracy."
The audience before him at Menoufia University broke into applause and calls of support, some shouting, "Long live Mubarak, mentor of freedom and democracy!" Others spontaneously recited verses of poetry praising the government.
Mubarak said he asked parliament and the Shura Council to amend Article 76 of the constitution, which deals with presidential elections. Egyptian television reported that the two bodies convened emergency sessions to begin discussing an amendment.
He said the amendment would be put to a general public referendum before the presidential polls, which are scheduled for September.
As recently as last month Mubarak had rejected opposition demands to open presidential balloting to other candidates.
Egypt holds presidential referendums every six years in which people vote "yes" or "no" for a single candidate who has been approved by parliament. Mubarak has been nominated by his ruling National Democratic Party to stand in four presidential referendums, winning more than 90 percent of the vote each time.
Mubarak has not officially announced his candidacy for a fifth term, though he is widely expected to be nominated by his ruling party.
Several opposition leaders have demanded that Mubarak amend the constitution to let more than one candidate compete for the presidency.
One of the strongest voices, Ayman Nour, head of the Al-Ghad Party, was detained Jan. 29 on allegations of forging nearly 2,000 signatures to secure a license for his party last year. He has rejected the accusation, and human rights groups have said his detention was politically motivated.
The prosecutor general has denied that charge.
His detention has been strongly criticized by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and American newspapers, and Rice canceled a Mideast visit that had been planned for next week, a decision believed to be in protest of Nour's detention.
AP-ES-02-26-05 0530EST
NOTE I had to change the title to fit within the maximum FR allows.
Original title follows
Egyptian President Orders Election Changes, Paving Way for First Contested Presidential Elections Since 1981
Freedom
Let me be the first to say......It's Bush's fault.
The downside of this is that Egyptians would more than likely elect a VERY hardline, pro-Sharia, person.
Having said that, democracy being what it is, we need to give the Egyptians time to figure out their mistakes. Iranian hardliners had broad popular support when they came in but have little support today. Much the same has happened in Algeria and Nigeria. The same will happen in Egypt.
One corcern, of course, would be that the hardliners get in and change the constitution and do away with the democracy that put them in power.
Rice Will Go to London, Not Middle East ***...The decision not to go apparently caught Egypt off-guard. The country's major pro-government newspaper, Al-Ahram, reported Friday that Rice would be in Egypt next Saturday.
Egypt last Sunday postponed the G-8-Arab conference on promoting democracy in the midst of a dispute with the Bush administration over the jailing of a political activist.
Rice had registered her "very strong concerns" about the detention of Ayman Nour, the leader of an opposition party, when she met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Tuesday in Washington. ...***
This "democracy in the Middle East" idea of George W. Bush's is a bunch of bull---t. <\Ted Kennedy>
OMG, the Lebonese were right, it IS like the Berlin Wall falling.
Dominoes. Unless the libs can stop it.
after Hitlary getting the Iraqi SMACK she deserves yesterday from what she said about Iraq...they might be quiet on this one.. unless of course they figure a way to take credit for it
Roll 'em, Roll 'em, Cowboy, keep those doggies rollin'...
Anybody want to predict how many DU posts will say "Wish we could do this in the United States", or something moronic to that effect?
Iraq's free election was bound to stir the embers in the Middle East. This is indeed good news!
And people said the idea of a domino effect following Afhganistan and Iraq was fanciful.
Free Elections in Egypt are risky since the current leader has been helpful in the WOT, but it's the right thing to do.
I noted that. Condi refused and Murbarik moved, quite amazing.
Unfortunately for the libs, these dominoes weigh a few tons each, the only thing they can achieve by standing in front of one is a really wet splat.
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