Mubarak vows to introduce more political reforms

The Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak vowed to introduce more political reforms after having called on the parliament to amend the constitution so as to permit the nomination of more than one person to the post of the President of the republic, noting that the way towards reform is still long.

Mubarak said in the inauguration of the second conference for reform in the Arab states that he will ask the Egyptian parliament to amend laws pertinent to political reforms operation, including the parties law, the law for practicing political rights. He added he will submit to the two people and Shoura council drafts of the two laws so as to be studied and adopted during the current parliamentary session and before the next legislative elections.

Mubarak gave no mention to details on the proposed amendments. But the opposition forces demand the abrogation of restrictions imposed on the formation of political parties and the organization of elections data and other political rights. Mubarak had asked the two assemblies ( the parliament and the Shoura ) on February 26 to amend article 76 of the Egyptian constitution so as to allow the opportunity for electing the President of the republic among several candidates.

The Egyptian president said that the Arab states have made tangible steps on the way to reform since the convening of the first conference this month last year. However, the road is still long because the reform process is still ongoing.

Together with other Arab states, Egypt has been exposed to pressure from the USA since more than one year to implement democratic reforms, Washington considers as necessary to overcome the roots of Islamic extremism.

Moreover, the pace of local protests has increased against the possibility of nominating Mubarak himself for a six-year fifth term of office.

However, direct presidential elections will be held in Egypt especially the possibility of Mubarak's nomination for himself for a fifth term of office.

Direct presidential elections are due in Egypt in September, but the opposition parties doubt that conditions related on the nomination will prevent Mubarak or any candidate of the ruling Democratic National Party to meet serious challenge.

The Egyptian opposition demands an end to the state of emergency enacted since the assassination of the former Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat in October 1981, limiting authorities of the President, and reducing presidential terms of office to two terms, and defining the period of each term of office to four year instead of 6.