The Egyptian Campaign against the Succession
Alaa Al-Aswany
November 3, 2009
Those who work in the theatre know the moment when one scene ends, the stage goes dark and the stage hands move in at speed to remove the set from the previous scene and then replace it with the set for the next scene. This process, known as changing the set, calls for training and skill but first of all precise knowledge of what the next scene requires. Like all Egyptians I watched the latest conference of the National Democratic Party, and was surprised at the extraordinary ability of the senior officials to fabricate and lie. They speak about achievements which exist only in their reports and their imaginations while millions of Egyptian live in complete misery. But I also felt that Egypt is now going a “changing the set” moment which was meant to take place quickly. But it has dragged on and faltered, and there are many reasons for that:
Firstly, President Mubarak has been ruling Egypt for 30 years and is now more than 80 years old. With all due respect, by virtue of age and the law of nature he cannot continue in his position for ever. A few days ago Mr Emad Adib suddenly confronted public opinion with a most unusual remark: he said he hoped the president would give up his office and suggested presidents should be able to leave power safely, in the sense that they would not be held to account, politically or legally, for their deeds while they were in office. It’s hard to imagine that a veteran commentator who is close to the presidency, such as Emad Adib, would venture such a precise and serious suggestion unless he had permission or instructions to do so. These signs add to the confusion on the political stage in our country, because we don’t know whether the president will step down or stay in office. It often seems as though there are two wills at work at the summit of power: one in favour of the president remaining and the other in favour of him stepping down.
Secondly, for years the Egyptian regime has worked hard to prepare Mr Gamal Mubarak to inherit the presidency of Egypt from his father. This effort has not been confined to inside Egypt, but has extended to abroad as well, and the main aim of Egyptian foreign policy is now, I’m sorry to say, to muster the support of Western countries for Mr Gamal Mubarak. The price for this Western consent is paid in terms of the interests, the money and the dignity of Egyptians. The Egyptian regime has understood that the key to the West’s heart is in Israel’s hands. If Israel is content, then all the Western countries will immediately be content. For the sake of the succession the Egyptian regime has fallen over itself to offer services to Israel: since 2005 until today Israel has obtained from Egypt things which it had not obtained since Camp David in 1978: the return of the Egyptian ambassador, gas, oil and cement agreements, and, more important than all that, Egypt’s attempts to persuade or force the Palestinians to do everything Israel demands. This went as far as closing the Rafah crossing and taking part in the blockade of the Palestinians, and punishing Hamas so that it submits to Israel’s will. In return for these services the Egyptian regime has been able to obtain implicit international support on the succession question. We may recall the Sharm el-Shei
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التصنيفات : translated articles |
