CAIRO: Former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat's wife, Gehan Sadat commented on the institution of the Egyptian presidency during an interview with broadcaster Gamal Enayet on Orbit TV's “Ala el-Hawa” talk show. Sadat said Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser had discipline and simultaneous commitment. She added there was a feeling of happiness, victory, and hope after the victories in the 1973 October War. “We don't deny that he protected Egypt from many things like wars, problems with other countries,” she added. That does not remove his responsibility as a president to stop the plunder of the country's resources, she said. Sadat said former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was not in touch with the people, and this was the difference between him and her husband who felt the people's problems. She said Mubarak did not made any contact with Sadat's family during his rule, whether for events or otherwise, but that she was always in contact with former first lady Suzanne Mubarak. She said she believed Mubarak could not fill the gap left by Sadat in Egypt. Sadat also commented on the new candidates for president. She said Hazem Salah Abu Ismail is religious and people fear extremism; Hisham al-Bastawisi's youth qualifies him but he does not have the finances to run; Amr Moussa has experience but is too old; Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh is loyal to the Muslim Brotherhood; and Hamdeen Sabbahi is special but is a Nasserite. “We don't need the rule of Abdul Nasser, Sadat, or Mubarak, but instead need freedom, determination, and constitution biased on in the people's interest,” stressed the former first lady. Sadat said the main duties of the president's wife are to seek social rather than political work, involve herself with the people and avoid arrogance.
