Egyptian opposition welcomes decision on multiparty presidential elections
Egypt, Politics, 2/28/2005

The Egyptian opposition parties and movements almost unanimously stated that the decision of the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to amend the constitution to permit more than one candidate to enter the presidential elections is a guarantee for Egypt's stability.

These parties and movements underlined the importance that the proposed amendment will not put restrictions on the citizen who whishes to nominate himself, and to exterminate the emergency law applied since the assassination of the former Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat in 1981. They also stressed that the number of terms of office for the elected president should not exceed two times.

The general guide for the Ikhwan al-Muslimine (Muslim Brothers) group Muhammad Mahdi Akef considered the amendment as "a positive move." Saying in a statement issued by the group that the optimum reform requires the unleashing of public freedoms and halting the emergency status the country lives under.

The opposition Nasserite Arab Democratic party said that proposing the amendment came in response to a demand from all Egyptian people social strata. A fact which shows the extent of the president's reaction with the representatives of the national forces.

In another development, leader of al-Ghad opposition party Ayman Nour ended a hunger strike after President Hosni Mubarak announced support for the amendment. His wife, Jamila Ismael said that Nour considered the amendment as an important step towards achieving the demands of the Egyptian people and the party and that he showed his appreciation for this very important step.

Upon the announcement made by President Mubarak to amend article 76 of the Egyptian constitution on choosing the president, the Egyptian Shoura and People's Councils started amendments to the constitution to permit more than one candidate to join the presidential elections through direct and secret elections. The two councils decided to draw a draft law to this effect within 15 days.

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