NDP, other political parties agree in principle to revise constitutional
Egypt, Politics, 2/3/2005

Egyptian Political parties involved in the ongoing national dialogue, including the National Democratic Party (NDP), have a consensus on the principle of revising a number of constitutional articles, said NDP Secretary General Safwat El-Sherif.

In statements after one of the meetings with a number of political party leaders on Wednesday, Sherif, also the Speaker of the Shura Council (the Upper House of Parliament), said the parties will reach a compromise formula that would appeal to all of them and will take into account the different views floated in the debates.

The debates demonstrated a sense of national responsibility to keep the dialogue continuing and not let difference in the stances or the views proposed halt it, he said.

All leaders of the parties involved have expressed their rejection of any foreign-imposed formula of reform or any attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of the country, he said.

He reiterated the party leaders' demand for a healthy, transparent and free atmosphere for the coming legislative elections in a way that would encourage voters to cast their ballots and have confidence in the electoral system and give opposition parties equal rights in campaigning, organizing marches and having access to media outlets.

NDP Secretary General Safwat El-Sherif cited an accordance and also discordance in views concerning legislative reform of the political laws that govern the political life such as the laws of practice of political rights, the party laws and the Parliament laws.

The NDP Policies Secretariat has been instructed to broaden the scope of dialogue to include all active NGOs, including trade unions and research center said Sherif.

Meanwhile, the NDP Assistant Secretary General and Chief of the NDP Organizing Committee Kamal El-Shazli said a trilateral committee comprising himself, Wafd leader No'aman Gomaa and the Democratic Grouping leader Rifaat El-Saed will meet next week to set the agenda as well as the timetable of the discussion of the issues of political, social and economic reform.

The results of the dialogue's debates will be presented to President Hosni Mubarak who in turn will refer them to the government to transform them into draft laws to be discussed later by the parliament, said Shazli.

Meantime, Gamal Mubarak, policies secretary of the National Democratic Party (NDP), said the party believes in the importance of continuing dialogue with other political parties and civil society organizations to develop the democratic process in Egypt and upgrade the role of the parties in political action.

Previous Stories:
  Sherif: Developments require revision of the constitution   (2/2/2005)
  Mubarak to nominate himself for elections, rejects constitutional changes   (1/31/2005)
  Mubarak rejects settling the Palestinians in al-Ghardaqa   (1/18/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search