CAIRO: The question of succession within the National Democratic Party (NDP) was posed to President Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal during the ruling party's fifth annual conference, who responded by implying that such a question was premature. Asked by reporters Sunday about the party's succession plans for his 80-year-old father, the younger Mubarak replied, "Is there a country or a party that decides on its candidate for elections three years before they take place? Mubarak, head of the party's policies secretariat, insisted that the proper apparatus was in place to decide such a question for the presidential elections of 2011. "We have a political structure and a fundamental organization inside the party, and we also have a clear constitution and legislative structure we respect, he said. Former coordinator of the Kefaya movement George Ishaq was left nonplussed by Mubarak's comments. "He's avoiding the question, Ishaq said, "and the plan for the inheritance of power is already underway. Proof of this is Article 76 of the constitution which has been introduced for someone specific. "The scenario is working towards a similar travesty in 2011 as it did in 2005 where the opposition candidate was thrown in jail. I do believe, however, that it is Hosni Mubarak who will run in 2011, not Gamal, he added. The party wrapped up its fifth annual conference Monday which was characterized by a tit for tat with opposition groups, as party stalwarts launched a series of criticisms on the Muslim Brotherhood and other secular opposition groups, who responded in kind. "Today we are living through an opening up, by way of media and independent newspapers and sharp debate and the proceedings of parliament, Mubarak said. Ishaq insisted however that Article 76, introduced as part of a series of constitutional amendments in March 2007, was the impediment for any sort of opening up. "Under Article 76 an independent candidate cannot run and any strong presidential candidate will come from there, not from opposition parties, he said. "We are calling for an early amendment to Article 76, so there is a chance for anyone to gain the necessary signatures for candidacy, Ishaq added. Mubarak was also at pains to defend his party from the crooked businessman image it has acquired recently after it introduced a series of pro-market reforms but also had some of its prominent members embroiled in a series of controversies and scandals. "They say the private sector is exploiting and harming people, he said in his speech to the party members Sunday, "[but] this private sector provides 70 percent of the job market. And in a nod to the scandals some NDP members have been embroiled in, he said, "They say we are pampering the private sector ... I say nobody is above the law.
