By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: The National Democratic Party’s newly elected president Talaat El-Sadat said Wednesday that the party will participate in the upcoming legislative elections and will seek majority in parliament.
He said in a press conference at the party’s new headquarters in Heliopolis that the party is undergoing a major reform process after changing its name to the New National Party (NNP)and eliminating “corrupt figures”. He hoped that the next government will be formed by the party.
“We are a new party that has no relationship with the past, there are still many honorable and respectable members and we now must restore people’s confidence,” El-Sadat said.
“There is disturbance in the political life in Egypt and the NNP is the only party that can create a balance,” he added.
He said that labeling them as “remnants” won’t be acceptable anymore and that they stand on “two strong feet.” He cited his participation in the 1973 war and January 25 Revolution, saying the members don’t need to prove their patriotism.
“We apologize to the Egyptian people for any corruption that the party was involved in in the past and demand that they hold us accountable to our stances now,” said Mohamed Ragab, secretary general of the party.
State Council is set to look at a case demanding the party be disbanded on April 16.
The party will hold a general conference on the April 25 at the site of former president Sadat’s assassination in Cairo.
