A quick thought: It seems worth noting the existance of the debate around the acceptable parameters of Gamal Mubarak’s portfolio. It seems that it is not acceptable for him to speak on behalf of Egypt, although, as head of the Policies Secretariat, he can speak on behalf of the NDP. In practice, is there really a difference between the NDP and the government? Mr. Stacher has an interesting theory about the importance of the foreign policy portfolio to Gamal and gang. Perhaps he’ll share it with us.
When asked about Monday’s demonstration against the President, Gamal is quoted as saying: “Every faction of society has the right to express their opinion, whether in Parliament, or in the street, in accordance with the law, and this is a matter we want to stress to the Egyptian people, whether their opinion agrees with the government and the party, or not.”
Smooth talking and saying the right things.
Gamal also added that there would be a dialog with the opposition before the political reform law is submitted to Parliament and that the party has no intention of opposing any constructive ammendments.
So there’s definitely going to be a political reform law? As for the dialog with the opposition bit, it seems pretty hackneyed by this point.
On Israeli-Egyptian relations he had this to say: “We have a vision about our relationships in the Arab world and the neighboring countries, like Israel and Turkey, which indicates that Egypt is committed to a peace agreement, and it has an active role in the region, that it uses to advance its interests and Arab issues.”
Actually, I cannot share it yet. I am still working it out and have no evidence to support claims. It remains nothing more than speculation.
I would say this though….there are some observers that have stopped seeing people like Rashid Mohamad Rashid as in Gamal’s group while others like Ahmad Nazif is getting closer to Gamal’s sphere.
I would of saw it differently. Basically Rashid is definitely in GM’s shilla but differs from other economists such as Mahmod Mohi-eddin. Someone like Nazif seems more neutral and not so overtly linkable to the policies secretariat.
Egyptian, Brothers & Sister,
I think that any dialouge regarding Al-Khediwi or his son is out-dated, I would sincerly advice Al-Khediwi family to accept the fact that:the 1952 wave surffing is gone and reading history in a considrable manner would help Al-Khediwi not to face Borquiba of Tunisia’s drastic end or Ciaochisco of Romanya’s dramatic beheading. By the way he was “Al-Khediwi’s best friend”
Tarek Dawoud