Council for a Community of Democracies

Egyptian Ruling Party Supports Mubarak Candidacy
August 30, 2010
By: Randi Zung

On August 25, Voice of America reported that Egypt’s ruling National Democratic Party announced that it would support long time President Hosni Mubarak as a party candidate in the country’s 2011 presidential election if he decides to run. President Mubarak, 82, who has been in office nearly 30 years, has not yet made an official statement about his intentions for candidacy. National Democratic Party Secretary-General Safwat El-Sherif stated that the party has so far refrained from making any official statements because they are still waiting on President Mubarak’s decision, Bloomberg Businessweek reported.

Various news outlets are reporting that President Mubarak’s son, Gamal, 46, is rumored to be another potential ruling party candidate. Addressing the candidacy rumors, Ali El Din Hillal, the ruling party's media head, stated, “the only proposed party candidate for the presidency is President Hosni Mubarak, and there is no discussion about any other name now as it will be premature.”

United Press International later reported that the Egyptian opposition had expressed their support for Gamal’s candidacy. Political dissident Saad Eddin Ibrahim stated, “every Egyptian has the right to run for elections that are free, fair and under international and local supervision.” Ibrahim, a notable Egyptian civil society activist, was detained for 7 years for expressing his dissenting views about President Mubarak’s rule.

President Mubarak’s health is thought to be a deciding factor in whether or not he will seek another term. In March 2010, President Mubarak underwent gallbladder surgery. President Mubarak originally took power in 1981, following the assassination of then-President Anwar Sadat.

On September 1, Democracy Digest reported that Egyptian democracy activists called for the Obama administration to refrain from supporting Gamal as a presidential candidate. Citing that Gamal’s succession would only further jeopardize prospects for peace and reform, Egypt’s democratic opposition asserted that Gamal’s potential candidacy would not lead to a democratic transition.

In a Washington, DC meeting organized by the Egyptian Association for Change-USA and the Coalition of Egyptian Organizations, program director of Voices for a Democratic Egypt Maria Dayton stated that the Obama administration should only support Egyptians that are in favor of “stable, pluralistic and democratic” reform. Recently the Obama administration has been accused of coddling Egypt’s longtime authoritarian ruler. Clarifying his position to support Gamal, during the meeting leading dissident Ibrahim stated, “I am and will always remain a strong advocate against hereditary succession in any form.”

Additionally, Democracy Digest reported that the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute have both requested permission from the Egyptian government to monitor next year’s election.

For previous news on Egypt, please see: http://ccd21.org/news/mena/egypt_emergency_law_extended.html

Sources:
Reuters - Egypt party backs Mubarak again, son a possibility

Voice of America - Egypt's Ruling Party Ready to Back Mubarak

Bloomberg Businessweek - Egypt Ruling Party Unanimous on Mubarak’s Nomination

United Press International - Egyptian opposition backing Mubarak's son

Democracy Digest – Egypt: US should support democratic reform or risk stroking radicalism