Gamal Essam El-Din reports on reactions to the conditions says must be in place for him to consider standing for the presidency Answering repeated calls from different political forces that he should stand as a candidate in Egypt's 2011 presidential elections , 67, the Nobel Prize winner and outgoing director-general of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said he would not rule out the possibility but would only consider running if Egypt undertook to reform its electoral system. "I deeply and sincerely appreciate the calls coming from individuals and parties reflecting sections of Egyptian public opinion and the trust they have shown in my ability and sincere wish to usher Egypt into a new era of reform and comprehensive change based on true democracy and social justice," El-Baradei said in a press statement on 3 November. "To all these people I would like to make it clear that my final position will be determined upon how three fundamental issues are tackled in the coming period." "There would have to be built-in guarantees that the next legislative and presidential elections are run properly. This means that a national, independent and unbiased commission must be set up to ensure the integrity of elections. Elections must also be held under the full supervision of the judiciary and in the presence of international observers from the United Nations to ensure transparency." El-Baradei also stipulated that voting lists must be revised to include only eligible voters and that all candidates must enjoy equal access to the media to explain their ideas and programmes. "These guarantees are necessary in order to send a clear message to the outside world that Egypt is serious about instigating a real process of reform and change," he argued. He insisted that the presidential race should be opened to all Egyptians, be they independents or party-based candidates. Unless constitutional and legal obstacles preventing this are removed, he said, "the elections would lack any kind of legitimacy, contradict with the core values of democracy, and have foregone conclusion like a Greek tragedy." El-Baradei even argued that the constitution is in urgent need of updating based on "national consensus and reflecting internationally- accepted norms of freedom, human rights and good governance". "Any new constitution must also reflect a delicate balance between the legislative, executive and judicial authorities and enshrine the principles of rational thinking, scientific research, respect of the majority and protection for minorities," El-Baradei said. He emphasised that he is not interested in office of president "for personal gain". El-Baradei's press statement may not have contained much that is new � his demands are shared more or less by all reform-minded independent and opposition figures -- but that did not prevent it provoking a storm of reactions, with many leading members of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) lashing out at what they attempted to characterise as his presumption. Moufid Shehab, minister of state for legal and parliamentary affairs, told members of the NDP in Alexandria on Sunday that "El-Baradei is wrong if he thinks one day he will become president of Egypt". "What does El-Baradei know about Egypt?" Shehab asked rhetorically. "He has been living abroad for years... he knows nothing about the problems of Egypt... he has never visited poor Egyptian villages or lived the problems of ordinary citizens or even developed a solid base of international relations to qualify to be the president of Egypt one day." "I advise El-Baradei to come back to the country, join a party and develop experience of political life for eight or nine years. Then he might be qualified to join the presidential race." "Please, Mr El-Baradei," Shehab concluded, "do not forget that you must secure the backing of 250 members of the two houses of parliament and local councils. Until you can fulfil this constitutional condition you should refrain from speaking about the presidency of Egypt." Some editors-in-chief launched a scathing attack against El-Baradei saying that the notion of him being the president of Egypt was a fanciful idea. Osama Saraya, editor of Al-Ahram daily, said "El-Baradei's remarks were tantamount to a constitutional coup and opened a door for George W Bush's policy of constructive chaos into Egypt." Saraya went on to accuse El-Baradei of being "ill-informed and an American stooge", insisting that "El-Baradei was the candidate of the Americans and Europeans to be head of the IAEA in 1997" and pointing out that "right now he holds dual nationality". "A presidential candidate must be fully Egyptian and not, like El-Baradei, hold a Swedish passport," said Saraya. He also told the BBC on Friday that "El-Baradei's remarks open the door for Islamist fundamentalists to have access to power and this in turn opens the gates of hell on Egypt." El-Baradei told CNN on Sunday that he was fully aware his pre-conditions would spark a furious reaction. "All I can say is that things do not go the right way in Egypt now," he said before renewing the demand that sweeping democratic measures must be introduced "in order to ensure the integrity of elections". Hossam Badrawi, chairman of the NDP's Education Committee, criticised the national papers, adding that El-Baradei was a respected national figure "that we are all proud of". He also said that newspapers which do not publish the truth are the only losers and will not affect El-Baradei's reputation. "We are all supposed to be happy that there will be such a presidential candidate with all these characteristics," Badrawi said. Independent and opposition politicians expressed the hope that El-Baradei's comments would breathe new life into the political scene. George Ishaq, a leading member of the Kifaya movement, told Al-Ahram Weekly that "unlike what NDP officials are seeking to imply, El-Baradei's remarks show that he is well informed about the situation in Egypt." "His conditions reflect the aspirations of all reform-minded figures in Egypt. They are what Egypt's protest movements have long called for," Ishaq added. "He is not someone NDP stalwarts expected to vilify. He is an internationally respected negotiator, a man with excellent diplomatic skills and with the experience of a statesman." Professor of constitutional law at Cairo University Yehia El-Gammal argues that "El-Baradei's remarks caused enormous embarrassment to NDP officials". "Their furious reactions clearly illustrate the extent of their embarrassment. El-Baradei's experience in international circles, the respect he enjoys both at home and abroad, make him an ideal presidential candidate, refuting the NDP's constant refrain that there is a shortage of capable candidates in Egypt." Although the liberal-oriented Wafd Party was the first to ask El-Baradei to join its ranks and be its candidate for the 2011 presidential elections the party's chairman Mahmoud Abaza has recently backtracked. "The Wafd is not interested in importing presidential candidates," Abaza now says. El-Baradei's father, Mustafa, was a member of the pre-1952 Wafd Party and chairman of the Bar Association in the 1970s. The Free Constitutional and Social Party (FCSP), led by Mamdouh Qenawi, an appointed member of Shura Council, announced that "it would be an honour for the party if El-Baradei became its candidate". Qenawi told the Weekly that "instead of setting conditions El-Baradei should come back to Egypt as soon as possible and join the FCSP's higher council thus overcoming obstacles in his way to the presidential race." "He should fight his battle in Egypt rather than from a European capital."
