A number opposition party leaders from the governorate of Daqahlia have denounced Mohamed ElBaradei’s visit last Friday to Mansoura, saying there was no coordination with them prior to the visit. They emphasized that the political forces they represent have a long history and deserve respect, criticizing the control that, in their words, the "Communists" exercised over the trip.
They also criticized ElBaradei, the ex-chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency and potential candidate in Egypt’s 2011 presidential elections, for his last-minute decision to change the mosque in which he performed Friday prayers.
Mohamed Ghanim, the coordinator for the National Association for Change (NAC), responded to the latter complaint, saying that "we changed the place of prayer to avoid a confrontation with the security forces."
Meanwhile, the Nasserist party secretariat of the Daqahliya governorate issued a statement denouncing the party’s inclusion in ElBaradei’s reception. The statement read, "The youth of the party consider it beneath them to become his followers."
In related news, Al-Masry Al-Youm obtained a copy of the NAC’s proposed amendments to the constitution, prepared by group member Yehya el-Gamal, which are proposed for discussion by the association as well as the public at large. The amendments will then be presented along with a popular petition to the High Constitutional Court, the Court of Appeals, the State Council, and the People’s Council.
The proposed amendment to Article 76–which currently sets limits on candidacy in presidential elections–specifies that it should be "the right of whoever obtains the verifiable support of 50,000 citizens from ten governorates to be nominated as a candidate for president of the republic." As for Article 77, which regulates presidential term limits, the proposed amendment reads, "The presidential term is to be seven years, with the possibility of re-election for one additional term, and this article is not to be amended for a period of 50 years from its passing."
An amendment is also proposed for Article 88, which relates to election monitoring. The amendment reads, "There shall be full judicial supervision over elections, which shall be held over a period of several days to allow for the judiciary to perform such a role."
Meanwhile, ElBaradei has agreed to attend Easter Mass, says George Ishak of the NAC. As a bearer of the Medal of the Nile, ElBaradei is entitled to sit immediately behind the President.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
