CAIRO: The Washington Post has published an article speculating about the possibility of Gamal Mubarak becoming Egypt's next president after his father, Hosni Mubarak, steps down. In a piece entitled "In Egypt, the son also rises, the Post's Egypt correspondent, Ellen Knickmeyer, surveys the opinions of ordinary Egyptians, political analysts and business interests, and draws on historical evidence, to suggest that Gamal Mubarak could succeed his father. "People don't know who he is. We only know he's the president's son, and he's imposed on us, one Egyptian furniture seller tells Knickmeyer. "We take it as a given that he will be elected, says a child-minder. A leading businessman interviewed for the article, Salah Diab, forecasts a negative reaction among the public should Gamal Mubarak assume the presidency. "I don't think that will be acceptable to anyone, he says. Speaking to Daily News Egypt, Gamal Sultan, professor of political science at the American University in Cairo believes it is too early to predict whether Gamal Mubarak will become the next president. "We have at least four years before we get to that point, he said. "But definitely he has a chance. Knickmeyer goes on to outline Gamal Mubarak's business background, noting that he did not enter politics until 2000 when he left his job in London as an investment banker to head the National Democratic Party's (NDP) policy committee. Since then, she continues, he and his team have introduced a number of "business-friendly changes that have led to a seven percent economic growth rate in 2007, and have helped attract $11 billion in foreign direct investment. "If current economic policy [continues to be] successful, said Sultan, "and dividends make their way to the lower classes, definitely we will see a different picture of public opinion toward Gamal. While this has won him support within Egypt's business community, Knickmeyer points out that the backing of the military - responsible for the presidential elections of Nasser, Sadat and Hosni Mubarak - will be key to his hopes for succession. The military, Knickmeyer writes, will want someone, "who will preserve the Camp David accord with Israel and the US military aid that comes with it, maintain relations with the US and Europe, and continue medical, housing and other benefits for military officers. Obtaining the support of the military, says Emad Gad, researcher at the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, is something Hosni Mubarak and many of Gamal's supporters within the NDP are currently working on. "If Gamal is to become president it will only happen during his father's lifetime, Gad told Daily News Egypt. "Gamal is a civilian with no military background, so the military must be readied to accept a civilian president. His father, through the security and the army, will control everything. Sultan agrees, adding that the appointment of a civilian president would be "revolutionary.
