CAIRO: Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak said this week that Egypt is ready and prepared for the 2011 presidential elections and alluded that there should be a little more democracy in this installment as compared to 2005. He said Tuesday that the election would be open to all who want to run. But, this goes against the laws already on the books that say a candidate must be the head of a recognized political party and garner enough votes in Parliament to make a run for the top job. “Anyone who can bring benefit to Egypt and its people” could take part, he said in an interview with the country's police magazine. His comments come as Egypt prepares for separate elections for Parliament, which are to take place this year, the the 82-year-old president added. “We want elections to be free and fair, bringing a new constituent that will reflect the will of the voters and prepare political parties for the presidential contest in 2011,” he said. Mubarak gave no indication of his own candidacy in 2011, acknowledging the importance of the “young generation” in Egyptian politics but adding that he was committed to fulfilling commitments made at the time of the last election in 2005, in which he won 88.6 percent of the vote. “We have already come a long way toward meeting our goals in terms of improving infrastructure and the socio-economic situation across the country, particularly in rural areas,” he said. BM
