Egypt eyes reform for fall election

The Washington Times ^ | 2/26/05 | Tanalee Smith

[MJY1288]

The Washington Timeswww.washingtontimes.com

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Egypt eyes reform for fall election

By Tanalee Smith
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published February 27, 2005

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CAIRO -- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in a surprise reversal, yesterday took a significant step toward democratic reform in the world's most populous Arab country by ordering that presidential challengers be allowed on the ballot this fall.

    The opposition long had demanded an open election, but Egypt's ruling party repeatedly had rejected it.

    The Egyptian president, who has held power since 1981 without facing an election opponent, only last month dismissed calls for reform as "futile."

    Mr. Mubarak made the announcement in a nationally televised speech, surprising even some in his inner circle, one source close to the presidency said.

    Touting "freedom and democracy," Mr. Mubarak told an audience at Menoufia University, north of Cairo, that he had instructed parliament and the consultative Shura Council to amend the constitution's Article 76 on presidential elections.

[JerseyHighlander]

For comments...

[MJY1288]

The simple fact that they are considering changing is a start. I believe the millions of oppressed in the Middle East are gonna rise up and demand their voices to be heard

[JerseyHighlander]

This looks cosmetic. Mubarak and National Democratic Party apparatus have only to weather the storm of 3 1/2 years of Bush's Presidency. In a country where there isn't a single institution of higher learning independent of the conservative clerics, not a single independent newspaper, and with such high illiteracy rates, Mubarak has nothing to worry about in this election. The American taxpayers have much to worry about, after Mubarak's political liberalization programme, US taxpayers will be paying for his rewards.

[coconutt2000]

I believe the comments will be:

Ted Kennedy: "Democracy in the MIddle East is in a quagmire."

John Kerry: "I was for it before, but now I'm against it."

Hillary Clinton: "This is an important step toward my election in 2008..."

Myself: "Duh... President Bush was right. Show the people of the ME that democracy means that "they" decide and the governments there will feel the pressure for reform."