Ramsco's Women Empowerment Initiative Recognized Among Top BRICS Businesswomen Practices for 2025    Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    Gold prices end July with modest gains    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Egypt's FM, US envoy discuss Gaza ceasefire, Iran nuclear talks    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Federal Reserve maintains interest rates    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    Rafah Crossing 'never been closed for one day' from Egypt: PM    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Egypt, Oman discuss environmental cooperation    Egypt's EDA explores pharma cooperation with Belarus    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Speculation grows over Gamal Mubarak succession, says report
Published in Daily News Egypt on 02 - 10 - 2009

CAIRO: The summer of 2009 saw a "boom in Egyptian and foreign speculation as to the regime's plans for Gamal's [Mubarak] succession, a US report said.
In his report, Michael Wahid Hanna, a fellow and program officer at the Century Foundation, thoroughly discussed the possibility of the inheritance of power in Egypt.
The report, titled "The Son Also Rises: Egypt s Looming Succession Struggle was published by the World Policy Institute.
Hanna explained that recent speculations were fueled by several factors such as news about the president's health and his "seclusion from the public. Hanna said foreign press were also "gripped by this fever, with American, European, Arab and Israeli media discussing Mubarak's possible successors and a possibility of stepping down.
However, it is necessary that during the transition to Mubarak's successor that Egypt takes steps "towards the establishment of a political culture that can tolerate and support the emergence of independent domestic initiatives aimed at creating governmental accountability, the report said.
Hanna said Egypt has a legal electoral superstructure that would facilitate Gamal's succession.
This includes the 2005 constitutional amendments which, although allowed a multiparty election for the first time, have placed "severe restrictions on the candidates. Such restrictions include stipulating the endorsement of 250 elected officials for the candidates, making it only possible for a member of the ruling National Democratic Party to run.
Hanna indicated that Mubarak's successful attempt in distancing the military from the political arena - that now it has "no visible role in the business of governing - can also be a way of paving the road for Gamal's succession.
This is clear in the current cabinet of ministers which includes only one active duty military officer - the Minister of Defense Mohamed Hussein Tantawi - although, Hanna says, Omar Suleiman, a senior military officer and the current head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Servicers, is a minister without a portfolio.
Hanna also discussed the continuous elimination of any potential successor to Mubarak. He cited the removal of popular and charismatic Minister of Defense Abdel Halim Abu Ghazala, in 1989 was a move to squash a potential rival.
He also cited Mubarak's endorsement in 2001 for popular minister of Foreign Affairs Amr Moussa to be the secretary general of the Arab League. In his report, Hanna warned that should Gamal take over in 2011, there are a number of simple procedures he has to take to quell any possible public backlash or discontent following his electoral victory.
According to Hanna, the reinstatement of term limits could foster a level of stability by creating a political horizon for frustrated opposition members and the society at large.
Hanna also said that there is "growing speculation that Gamal Suleiman is a potential successor. He explained that this is a "testament to the limited universe of plausible candidates and the hope among diverse sectors of the Egyptian populace that the country would avoid the humiliation of being reduced to a quasi monarchy.
Hanna concluded by saying, "While succession itself will not immediately set off chaos, perhaps the ignominious prospect of another 28 years of economic dysfunction and political repression could be what finally upends Egypt's seemingly perpetual but untenable status quo.


Clic here to read the story from its source.