CAIRO - Thirty people have already announced their intention to run in the forthcoming presidential elections. They include politicians, police officers and farmers. Some of the candidates are very well known, such as former Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei; Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa; former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq; and political activist Ayman Nour. Others include Counsellor Hesham el-Bastawisi; Lieutenant-General Magdi Hatata; Aboud Al-Zumour, leader of the Islamist group responsible for the murder of President Anwar Sadat; a farmer called Mohamed Moussa; and Hamdi el-Tahan, a former parliamentarian. It is the new feeling of freedom and greater confidence in the transparency of elections after the recent revolution that is prompting so many people to throw their hat into the ring, according to Fawzia Abdel-Sattar, a professor of criminal law at Cairo University. “But the candidates should have what it takes, including plenty of political experience and a sound grasp of domestic issues and foreign relations,” she says. “Presidential candidates must also do their best to help their fellow citizens socially and economically, especially as Egypt is at a very critical stage, as it enters a new era.” Fawzia told Akhbar Al-Youm semi-official newspaper that the presidential nominee should try to achieve national unity and social solidarity. “He should also support the idea of pan-Arabism, in order to strength the Arab world in the face of the major Western countries,” she added. Shawqi el-Sayyed, a professor of law, also notes that the presidential candidates should have wide political experience, as the job is a very demanding one. The presidential elections will be held in 18 months' time, after the parliamentary elections, which will take place six months from now. Laila Abdel-Meguid, a professor of communications at Cairo University, says that the removing of restrictions has encouraged many people to think of running, although the names will probably be whittled down to a few candidates ��" the most suitable ones. She too agrees that the candidates should have a lot of political expertise and experience, as well as a good understanding of Egypt's history and a vision for the future. Rabeh Basta, a professor in the Faculty of Law, Beni Sueif University, says that the fact that there are so many nominees means that we now have democracy and freedom. “But being President is a big responsibility, especially as the population of Egypt keeps on growing and growing.”
