Cairo: the parliament nominates the President in May, referendum is in September

The secretary general of the ruling party in Egypt Safwat al-Sharif said yesterday that the party will witness this year a vast political move and an intensive activity especially as it is the year for referendum on the Republic's presidency and the elections of the parliament.

He said that nomination of the president of the republic will be at the People Assembly ( parliament) in May before the conclusion of the parliamentary session and then the referendum will be held in September.

Al-Sharif indicated that the party is making its own preparations to launch the elections of the new People's Assembly. This will be through preparing the elections program, boosting the election process for the party in order to choose best candidates and revitalizing the role of general and branch secretariats to explain the party's vision and achievements.

Al-Sharif explained that the current year will also witness results of the national dialogue with parties and renewal of 25% of members of the party units in conferences which are held in 6700 party units in March.

Al-Sharif announced that President Hosni Mubarak will discuss "the full vision and explains the idea on future policies" during the meetings to be held with the secretariats of youths, women, workers, peasants, the political club and the parliamentary club of the national party. He said that year 2005 will be the year for political and economic reform and will be eventually the year of national dialogue between the Egyptian legal parties to define priorities for reforms, noting that during the two next weeks bilateral preliminary meeting will be made, alongside with preparations for the plenary conference of all political parties.