Egypt's ruling party plan to invigorate itself by call for greater democracy

The NDP policies secretariat will set up branch secretariat. The Policies Secretariat will have a policies council. Members of the Council will be chosen by the "NDP Politbureau".

In an interview with Middle East News Agency (MENA) Wednesday, the first since his election as NDP Secretary General, Safwat Al Sherif said that the NDP bureau, in its new formation, will meet next week to draw up plans and lay down mechanisms to apply the papers and principles which were approved by the NDP three-day General Congress (Sept 15-17).

ÊÊÊ The Council will be headed by the chairman of the Policies Secretariat.

ÊÊÊ Sherif explained that the policies council which will be set up next week will push forward and develop party work.

Sherif said that the NDP secretariat on policies, a new secretariat created as part of the overhaul process of the NDP and presided by Gamal Mubarak, "is the pulsating heart of the NDP and the instrument of new thinking.

ÊÊÊ The council will include 200 of top thinkers and people of experience known for their distinguished performance in the fields of education, health, economic orientation", and foreign policy and women and in the field "We and the World".

ÊÊÊ Sherif said that the policies council will hold open dialogues with all institutions of the civil society (parties, syndicates, unions, Non-Governmental Organizations) in order to activate national participation in every sphere of national action.

ÊÊÊ The results of dialogues to be conducted by the policies secretariat will be presented to NDP bases which will be asked to hold open discussions and explore the views of the bases.

ÊÊÊ The process represents popular participation from the level of the village, unit, district and city and is a manifestation of general participation in the coming stage following the overhaul of the National Democratic Party.

ÊÊÊ "This is the approach of the National Democratic Party in the coming stage. It is the optimum means of accelerating the movement of the party and increasing its effectiveness," Sherif said. "It is a new revolutionary thinking."

ÊÊÊ The new trend will be strengthened by the new faces and the new leaderships who joined the NDP secretariat (representing 15 readerships) in addition to creating new secretaries for youth, culture, the private business sector, the women's secretariat. These secretariats integrated and address themselves to the people.

ÊÊÊ Sherif said this "revolution" is led by new faces capable of realizing development.

ÊÊÊ The NDP Secretary General revealed that the new basic system of the NDP laid down working mechanisms which will govern the movement of the NDP at all levels up to the top.

ÊÊÊ Sherif said that the new membership secretariat will play an important role in coordination with the organization secretariat.

ÊÊÊ The NDP, in the new stage will open the door of membership before youth, women, the elderly, farmers, workers, intellectuals and students in order to participate in decision-making.

ÊÊÊ It is a call to all Egyptians to work and interact with the National Democratic Party.

ÊÊÊ "We call upon all to engage in political life. All are invited to present their views within a free and democratic framework," Sherif said.