Sharaf believes elections should be postponed

Prime Minister Essam Sharaf says he believes that a postponement of the upcoming parliamentary elections in September would benefit the country

"On a personal basis, I support putting some additional time before the parliamentary elections,” says Prime Minister Essam Sharaf. “But this should be subject to debate and popular demand.”
Sharaf was speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Egyptian community in South Africa at the headquarters of the Egyptian embassy in Pretoria. Sharaf discussed the challenges that Egypt is facing in the transitional period as it inches towards democracy.
The prime minister talked about the importance of building a strong economy to support the democratic process in Egypt. He added that the Egyptian government welcomes the investments of Egyptians living overseas and will provide the incentives needed to set up businesses in the country.
Sharaf also talked about the debate stirring in Egypt now regarding postponing the elections to allow developing political movements in Egypt time to take shape and make implementing the changes called for by the January 25 revolution more feasible. However, he added that if citizens insist on holding the elections in September, then so be it. He added that he believes democracy shall prevail in Egypt.
“The democratic process will succeed because democracy is in the genes of the Egyptian people and the proof is that there was a 40 per cent participation in the referendum (held on 19 March),” says Sharaf, pointing out that previously only a symbolic 3 per cent of Egyptians voted.
He said that the government will use this energy to help the democratic process, stressing that there is no turning back now and that the future of Egypt and the reform of its foreign relations depends on the democratic process.
Sharaf added that he and the ministers of the interim government have opened their doors to all citizens and that he often meets with them in his office or even in his home, and that his consultant often meets with the revolutionary youth.
Regarding Egypt's foreign relations, Sharaf repeated earlier statements declaring that Egypt is turning a new page with all countries and that Africa is important, because Egypt plays a significant role both in the Arab world and the African continent.
Sharaf added that Egypt will support scientific research so that technology becomes part of Egyptian culture. He also added that the Egyptian government is specifically interested in research in the field of nuclear energy. The prime minister also added that the Ministers Council has recently approved a project by Nobel Prize laureate Ahmed Zuweil that will improve scientific research in Egypt.