CAIRO: Hany Anan, one of the founders of the Kefaya Political Movement for Change, said that he is not opposed to Gamal Mubarak succeeding his father in the 2011 presidential elections on condition that Article 77, concerning the number of terms each president is allowed to have in office, be changed. On the talk show Manshet broadcasted on ON TV, Anan said he didn t mind Gamal Mubarak becoming president as long as Article 77 is amended to restrict newly elected presidents to only two terms, a remark that infuriated Kefaya members. Article 77 of the Egyptian constitution currently stipulates that a president can be reelected an indefinite number of consecutive terms. According to Anan, the process of succession will be a smooth one that will not trigger an uprising from the people. We refuse the idea of succession altogether although it is inevitable, but it is better to have a plan that will help us move forward, he said, referring to his proposal to amend Article 77. Kefaya members were quick to denounce Anan s statements, pointing out that he has been distant from the movement for more than two years, making his recent statements a personal opinion that do not represent the movement s core beliefs. Anan s opinions are opposed to Kefaya s position on the issue of succession. Kefaya was created as a result of an animosity to the 'ruling family,' and the movement supports a peaceful ending to its term through building a coalition that represents all forms of opposition including the Muslim Brotherhood, said Abdel Halim Qandil, general coordinator of Kefaya. Similarly, George Ishaq, former coordinator of the movement, said, These statements are baseless and defy the grounds upon which the movement is based, which include a refusal of extending or inheriting presidential rule. Anan, however, assured that his comments were his personal opinion. I am a political activist and I am not worried about the repercussions of my opinions on my future as a politician. "On the contrary, I am the only one who was harmed by my affiliation with Kefaya, which I consider to be one of the most honorable things I have done in my life. I am the only one [from Kefaya] eyed by state security and who is banned from participating in the political arena. Anan further said that members of the movement are all free to express their personal opinions, indicating that he had once opposed a call for abandoning the Camp David accords. I represent the school of political realism, and the reality in Egypt dictates that whoever comes to power must be part of the existing system. Since this is the case, the least we could do is request something that will help us move forward, he added. Anan also warned against disintegration and polarization that will overtake the country in the event that someone from outside the ruling regime were to come to power. We currently have a secular wave and a religious wave. If we hold open elections, the religious wave will come to power and sweep all the freedoms we have been granted in the past years, said Anan
