CAIRO - The separating line between public and private property seems to be somewhat vague in the minds of many Egyptians – from high-profile officials to modest civil servants. The lack of a clear definition is evident when we consider the gifts presented by foreign statesmen to their local counterparts. All gifts, regardless of their value, are defined as private property. Many former officials of the Mubarak regime were involved in corruption and currently stand trial. This clearly reflects how the distinction between 'public' and 'private' got blurred by personal interests. There are surprising reports that former prime minister Ahmed Nazif, accused of graft and in custody, still has all the cars allocated to him by the State when he was prime minister. These cars are still at the disposal of his family despite everything: the downfall of the regime, graft charges and an incumbent government supposedly maintaining law and order in every respect. Apparently there is a tradition taken over from the ousted regime, because the same reports mention cars in the possession of other former prime ministers' families: Atef Sedqi, Kel-Ganzuri and Ahmed Shafiq. The January revolution broke out to change thinking, behaviour and the awareness of rights and liabilities. It is really quite absurd to squander public property or give privileges to officials who are not in office anymore and whose financial integrity is being investigated. The Sharaf government's legitimacy is based on the events of the revolution in Tahrir Square and elsewhere. It needs to come up with rules and abide by them if it wants to earn credibility and gain respect for creating transparency in new Egypt.
