CAIRO - The race for the People's Assembly (the Lower House of the Parliament) hotted up Tuesday night when four key members representing the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), and three opposition parties had a live debate on official TV. Ali el-Selmi of Al-Awafd, Ahmed Hassan of the Nasserite Party and Gouda Abdul Khaleq of el-Tagammu (Unionist) grilled the Finance Minister and stalwart member of the ruling party Youssef Boutros-Ghali, over the Government's economic policies. "The conditions today are not the best or what the Egyptian people deserve," Ahmed Hassan told Ghali, who vehemently defended the Government's policies, which he said aimed to promote exports through re-invigorating agriculture and industry. "Over the past five years, the NDP has managed to increase the nation's volume of exports from LE50 billion to LE100 billion. It plans to double this figure within the coming five years," Ghali said. However, Hassan said that the Nasserite Party would prioritise economic and social justice in its campaign for the elections, scheduled for Sunday. "Our party will focus on discussing ways to combat poverty and bridge the gap between the rich and poor. The Nasserite policies aim to serve poor citizens, be they farmers or workers or young people," Hassan said. Meanwhile, el-Selmi said that Al- Wafd Party gave priority to serve the interests of ordinary people through upgrading their education and health services, a target, which he said the NDP had failed to achieve. He added that the Government of Ahmed Nazif had not been successful in improving the quality of local products as it failed to upgrade the nation's industry and agriculture. "It is illogical that Egypt imports 92 per cent of its cooking oil needs, and it is a shame that fava beans (fuul) comes from abroad," el-Selmi told the landmark debate, which was aired by Channel One. Gouda Abdul Khaleq said that el- Tagammu Party had designed programmes and policies to serve the Egyptians' interests with a particular focus on manpower development like improving education and health services. "These programmes deal with vital issues such as social justice, fighting poverty, investment, employment, agricultural development, housing, education, healthcare and the empowerment of women," Abdul Khaleq said. But, Ghali was swift to dismiss el- Tagammu and el-Nasserite programmes as unclear, whereas the NDP's policies were announced after thorough studies and planning. "I wonder if el-Tagammu or the Nasserite parties have realistic plans for increasing Egypt's exports of farm produce to 200,000 tonnes during the coming stage," Ghali said. He insisted that the ruling party's programmes have already been translated into action in meeting the challenges facing Egypt's economy. These programmes and policies relating to agriculture, housing, citizenship and democracy and health and education are moving ahead despite the rhetoric of the opposition, Ghali said.
