Hassan Nafaa, general coordinator for the National Association for Change (NAC), said a boycott of the upcoming People’s Assembly and presidential elections will be effective only if all opposition movements are unified in their decision to abstain from election participation.
At a seminar two days ago at the Pharmacists Club in Daqahliya, entitled “The Future of Change in Egypt”, Nafaa said the large number of signatures gathered on the pro-reform petition legitimizes the NAC and improves chances of political change. The Muslim Brotherhood assisted in the seminar's organization efforts.
If the reformists do decide to participate in the elections, however, Nafaa called for the formation of a committee to coordinate the opposition. In that event, Nafaa said the opposition should have a list of candidates, united under “The Change List” banner.
Dr. Mohamed Ghoneim, a reputable kidney surgeon and coordinator for the NAC in Daqahliya, said the regime is unlikely to provide guarantees for fair elections. Due to institutionalized fraud, the change the NAC champions will not materialize through elections, Ghoneim added.
In other news, the “Gamal Mubarak…Egypt is Looking to a New Beginning” campaign in Suez has gathered 8850 signatures in support of Gamal since the campaign began ten days ago, according to campaign coordinator Mohamed Ali Raslan. He said the large audience that attended the campaign-sponsored iftar two days ago refutes claims that Gamal does not have a popular base.
In Qalyubiya, a number of activists launched another pro-Gamal campaign named “the Crescent and Cross United”.
Meanwhile, “You are not of Us”, another anti-Gamal campaign led by coordinator for the NAC in Sharqiya Rehab el-Sammanoudi, will be launched from the Democratic Front Party headquarters. Ayman Nour, founder of the Ghad Party and 2005 presidential contender, and George Ishaq, NAC coordinator for the governorates, will be in attendance. The new campaign is intended to counter growing pro-Gamal campaigns.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
