EGYPT: Annual convention of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party closes in Cairo

Annual convention of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party closes in Cairo after a year in which speculation has risen about the possibility that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's son is being groomed to succeed him. The annual convention of Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party came to a close in Cairo on Tuesday (November 6), after a year in which speculation has risen about the possibility that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's son is being groomed to succeed him. Egypt's ruling party re-elected the elder Mubarak as party leader during the convention, giving the 79 year-old Mubarak, who has ruled Egypt for a quarter of a century, another five years at the head of the party. During the convention the NDP also amended its internal structure in a way that would ease a presidential bid by Mubarak's son Gamal, who is head of the NDP policies secretariat. Many analysts have noted that Gamal Mubarak plays an exceptionally prominent role at events like the party convention relative to other senior party officials. Speaking at the close of the convention today, President Hosni Mubarak lauded what he said were Egypt's political and economic reforms under the NDP. "The last five years have witnessed the first presidential elections in our history contested by more than one candidate, just as they have seen and are still seeing exceptional movement in our political life. Our economy has emerged from years of recess, and in the past two years had a record level of investment and employment," he said. Article 76 of the Egyptian constitution was amended two years ago to allow for multi-candidate presidential elections, but the government has tightened a ban on the Egypt's largest opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, form participating in future elections. Mubarak also said today that the NDP would protect Egypt's independence. "We protect the sovereignty of Egypt and its independence, and we don't accept any pressure or conditions on us and we reject any interference in our affairs," he said, in apparent reference to widespread criticism in Egypt his government is beholden to the United States, from whom it received nearly $2 billion in annual aid. At this year's conference the NDP also approved the creation for the first time of a party "supreme council" - the same wording used in a constitutional amendment defining who parties can nominate as their presidential candidates. The new body includes members of the general secretariat office, including Gamal Mubarak, who is also assistant secretary-general of the party. The change removes any ambiguity or uncertainty about Gamal's eligibility to run for the presidency without a promotion to the party's hierarchy. At a press conference yesterday, the younger Mubarak held court on party policy, and, for the first time at length, on foreign policy. "We say for the future that our relations with America will pass through a different stage. Our plan is that we will proceed from relations that were based on donations to wider relations that depend upon our interests in the region and US interests in the region and we want to proceed with cooperation, investment and trade," he said. The president's younger son was also peppered by journalists with questions about the succession, which he is nearly every time he speaks publicly. "We have a very clear constitution, very clear legal procedures, and it became even more clear after amendment 76 in the constitution, and we have a very clear presidential election laws, we have very clear laws on the participation of political parties and independents, that's what we're confirming. We all respect the constitution. If some one wants to speculate, I'm not party to this. I won't go into details but I will confirm the important things. That is what we have been saying and we will say it again now, and it became very clear after last year's presidential elections," he said. Opposition critics say that constitutional reform has been used by the ruling NDP to tighten its hold on power. The secular opposition in Egypt remains small and divided and the Muslim brotherhood is formally banned from political participation, despite fielding candidates in the last Parliamentary elections as independents. Gamal Mubarak has denied any presidential ambitions, and some analysts say a succession to Gamal could only happen while the elder Mubarak is alive to prevent a power struggle or military intervention. Despite hopes for political reform in the Arab world, the sons of several longtime rulers have assumed power in recent years, for example in Morocco, Jordan and Syria.

ITN Source | November 7, 2007

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