Opposition theorizes on prospective “inheritance of power
CAIRO: As the fourth National Democratic Party (NDP) convention started this week, opinions were divided on the stance toward the ruling party and its plans. Opposition and some independent papers claim that Gamal Mubarak is planning to inherit the presidency, while state-run newspapers strongly refuted the assertion as they highlighted the achievements of the party.
Independent newspapers focused more on criticizing the 25-year-old policies of the NDP. Hamdy Rizq concluded a series of articles in Al-Masry Al-Youm, titled Why people hate the NDP.
Other writers focused on a point or two in their criticism. In one article, Magdy Mehanna wondered whether the convention would discuss the deteriorating regional role of the country. In Al-Masry Al-Youm, he wrote, Do the NDP and the government have the courage to admit that one of the main reasons for the absence of the country s [regional] role, or limiting it to a minimum, is the failure of the policies of the NDP government?
In the same newspaper, Amr Khafagy adopted a relatively moderate stance. Referring to the controversy surrounding the inner party clash between old and new generations, Khafagy explained that this clash is a healthy sign in the future of the ruling party. But, he added, the party remains authoritarian with decisions taken at the top level with no regard for the majority. The only solution leading to the betterment of the party, in his opinion, is to turn it into an opposition entity.
In Al-Destour, Ibrahim Mansour was critical of all the talk about the democratic future that marked the NDP conventions. He explained that in spite of these talks, the party officials are still appointed, not elected.
Mansour downplayed the research papers and reviews discussed at the convention with the aim of bettering the country and addressing its problems. The party had discussed similar papers in its previous convention in 2004, he continued, but systems like railways, education and infrastructure are still falling apart.
Mansour also pointed to the overlooked, but much-demanded, constitutional changes. He said that instead of changing Articles 76 and 77 that pertain to presidential elections and ruling terms, the system is trying to impose constitutional changes that would curb the work of the opposition, especially the Muslim Brotherhood, and eliminate judicial election supervision.
The headlines in opposition papers were mainly about Gamal Mubarak inheriting power. In its front page headline, El-Ghad newspaper said that the president and his son have agreed on inheritance but disagreed about the process and the timing. The paper discussed the inner party clashes in detail.
The same opinion was echoed in Al-Karama newspaper, where Abdel Halim Qandil called this season The Fall of Inheritance. He added that inner party conflicts are delaying the process.
Al-Wafd didn t focus as much on the passing of power from the incumbent to his son, but, like independent newspapers, was critical of the NDP. The paper s editor, Anwar El-Hawary, called the party a danger more eminent than any foreign threat the country has faced before.
In the same newspaper, Wagdy Zein El-Dein stressed that the party doesn t want to discuss constitutional changes at its convention so that it can keep country rule to itself.
But in state-run newspapers, there was more than cheering for the much-criticized party. In Rose El-Youssef, Abdullah Kamal noted that the convention attendees spontaneously cheered statements made by Gamal Mubarak and Safwat El-Sherif. He named three specific incidents: Mubarak rebuffing the American plans for a new Middle East; Mubarak calling for nuclear energy; and El-Sherif refusing the Pope s apology for earlier remarks that had offended Muslims.
In Sabah El-Kheir magazine, Abdel Gawad Abu Kab said that party interest in bettering the living conditions of the poorer segments of the society is genuine. Away from the talks of inheritance and conspiracy theories, the poor are the stars of the NDP convention, he wrote in his article s title.
Taking a relatively tame tone, Al Ahram s editorial called for a balance between the focus on constitutional changes and the daily concerns of the population, but without elaborating on either.
In the background of the press s focus on the NDP and its convention, Pope Benedict s remarks were still generating comments. In Al Ahram, Salah Montasser said that the Pope s apology should be clearer.
