Harb, a former member of the NDP’s Policies’ Secretariat, resigned from the party shortly after he voted against Mubarak’s proposed constitutional amendment at the Shura Council February last year, and expressed his interest in forming a new political party with a liberal agenda.
I’m attaching the press release.
Press Release
The Democratic Front Party
(Under establishment)The founders of the Democratic Front Party (under establishment) will be holding a press conference on Sunday, 16 July 2006, at 11:00 am in Shepard Hotel, Nefertiti Hall.
At this conference speakers will introduce the principal founders of the party, present its program and invite all Egyptian citizens to participate in the establishment of the party.
Speakers include representatives of the founding party members Dr. Yehia Al-Gamal, the prominent lawyer and professor of constitutional law at Cairo University, and Dr. Osama Al-Ghazali Harb, Editor in Chief of Al-Siyassa Al-Dawliya Journal and member of Shura Council, in addition to a number of prominent public figures and new young faces who have participated in founding the party.
Both names are for respectful Egyptian politicians ( a rare bread). Another secular force playing is what Egypt needs.
What’s going to be intersting whether the party will be able to reach down to the grass roots and build a large constituency, or if it will become just another elitist organization. And also how “loyal” it will act towards the regime. I’m betting the NDP isn’t that keen on a liberal, democratic alternative, an opposition party that especially the US could interact with without engaging the Ikhwan. Look what happened to Ayman Nour..