Egypt's PM, JICA chief discuss boosting investment, education ties at TICAD 9    Egyptian pound wavers vs. USD in early trade    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    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    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.



ElBaradei says change in Egypt is inevitable
Published in Daily News Egypt on 28 - 02 - 2010

CAIRO: The former head of the UN nuclear watchdog agency who has emerged as an opposition leader in Egypt appealed to the government Saturday to heed calls for change before frustration over a stale political system ruled by one man for nearly 30 years spirals out of control.
Mohamed ElBaradei, a Nobel laureate who has seen a wave of support from youths and reformists who see him as a potential challenger to President Hosni Mubarak, told The Associated Press that getting the general public on board with a peaceful movement is his biggest challenge.
The 67-year-old career diplomat - who gained international respect while leading the International Atomic Energy Agency - remained mum about any presidential aspirations, saying a mass reform movement must first take hold.
You have seen how much support I got even before I set foot in Egypt, ElBaradei said during an interview in the garden of his house on the outskirts of Cairo. It shows that people are ready, I would say even hungry for change. But this is still something that has to take roots and has to spread to different parts of the country.
As IAEA chief, ElBaradei infuriated Washington by challenging claims Saddam Hussein had a secret nuclear program ahead of the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq and grappling with Iranian and Korean nuclear programs.
The Bush administration tried to have him removed from office. But the US and its Western allies publicly lined up to praise him in the months before he left the post in late November after 12 years as the public face of world diplomacy on keeping nuclear weapons out of the hands of rogue states.
Respected worldwide and untouched by the corruption tainting much of Egypt s current regime, ElBaradei has turned his focus to promoting electoral reforms and constitutional amendments that would allow a credible rival candidate to run in next year s presidential election.
He has been meeting with various groups at his house since returning to Cairo a week ago after nearly three decades abroad, including women and youth representatives who initiated a petition calling on him to run for presidency. Over 100,000 people have joined a Facebook group supporting his candidacy.
Existing restrictions make it practically impossible for independents or candidates from new parties to run, meaning that ElBaradei s chances would be dim without long-sought constitutional amendments.
Supporters hope his international stature will help protect him from government harassment that has been one of the key factors in preventing past opposition movements from taking hold.
I hope the government will understand that you don t want for people to reach a point of desperation and then you get into yet another revolution, he added.
The government hasn t publicly commented on ElBaradei s campaign. But he has come under fire from pro-government writers, some accusing him of seeking a constitutional coup and others blasting him as arrogant or lacking knowledge of the country because of his long period abroad. One commentator said ElBaradei is not after the presidency but wants to open the door for more international interference in the affairs of the Arab world s most populous nation.
Critics accuse the Egyptian government of mismanagement, cronyism and corruption and violent riots have broken out the cost of food, with several people dying in 2008 in fights that broke out in lines to buy subsidized bread.
ElBaradei said the majority of Egyptians need to be educated about basic rights and freedom, and he hopes to persuade them to join his movement as a way out of increasing poverty and political stagnation.
People need to understand the linkage between the bread they eat and democracy. That is not easy. They are not used to that, he said.
The father of two said previous efforts to push for change fizzled because they couldn t muster mass appeal in the nation of 80 million people.
While his meetings last week involved fellow reformists, he said he plans to meet with the general public after returning to Egypt after spending a few weeks abroad for previous commitments.
He is a declared independent and has refused to consider joining an existing political party because of the regime s control over the political system. He also denied his campaign gives legitimacy to the powerful regime by creating an air of democracy.
I am not playing by the rules of this pseudo-democracy, he said.
Calls for changes to the constitutional amendments - instituted by Mubarak himself in 2005 and 2007 - are not new. A popular movement that emerged in 2005 has dissipated partially because of a government crackdown but also because it lacked focus and a unifying figure.
Since taking office in 1981, Mubarak has not named a successor and never had a vice president but he is believed to be grooming his son Gamal to succeed him.
The regime - backed by long-standing emergency laws - also frequently jails journalists, pro-reform activists and political opponents.
ElBaradei, who has begun forming a coalition with other opposition leaders, said he plans to launch a website to collect signatures from the public with a list of demands to present to the government.
The regime would not be able to ignore the demands for guarantees for free and fair elections and the removal of candidacy restrictions if millions of people sign on, he said.
Hassan Nafaa, the coordinator for the new group, said other demands included independent monitoring of the election and the lifting of emergency laws.
The first test will be parliamentary elections in October, followed by the 2011 presidential vote.
When asked if Egypt s government could face protests like those that broke out in Iran, ElBaradei said he hoped to avoid that but it was up to the government.
It is inevitable that change will come to Egypt. What I m trying to do is pre-empt a point of clash between the government and the people, he said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.