Moving away from elections, state-owned newspapers headlined President Hosni Mubarak’s recent statements regarding resumption of Egypt’s nuclear program. “Mubarak affirms his interest in implementing a peaceful nuclear program and in training Egyptian cadres,” reads Al-Ahram daily.
The same paper quotes Minister of Electricity Hassan Younis as saying that the government will hold a bid later this month or in early February to select the company that will build Egypt’s first nuclear station, adding that the cost may reach US$4 billion. The station is expected to commence operations in 2019, according to Al-Ahram. Gamal Mubarak, the president’s son and head of the ruling NDP Policies Secretariat, was the first to pull the curtain off the government’s plan to resurrect the decades-old program.
In 2006, Gamal announced the resumption of Egypt’s efforts to build nuclear stations to produce electricity, citing the need to diversify energy sources. Natural gas mines, which generate nearly 60 percent of Egypt’s electricity, are expected to dry out in 34 years, he said. In 2007, President Mubarak affirmed his son’s assessment and gave orders to proceed with the plan.
Privately-owned papers played down the importance of purported progress on Egypt’s nuclear program. Still immersed in the aftermath of parliamentary elections, privately-owned Al-Dostour devoted almost half of its front page to highlighting the post-election fallout. The paper’s main headline reads: “Ezz’s council begins tomorrow,” referring to Ahmed Ezz, the ruling National Democratic Party’s (NDP) heavyweight leader. The new parliament will convene “amid local and foreign outrage and calls for dissolution due to its illegitimacy,” reads Al-Dostour’s main story.
The paper also emphasizes the protest scheduled on Sunday in objection to the opposition’s feeble representation in parliament. Another front-page headline reads: “118 outgoing parliamentarians to hold a sit-in tomorrow in front of the State Council…and call for the creation of a ‘national front’ to expose all violations committed by the NDP internationally.” In this month’s electoral race, the NDP secured more than 80 percent of seats and left opposition parties with fewer than 2 percent.
As to the Muslim Brotherhood, which held 20 percent of last parliament’s seats, it emerged empty handed. Vote rigging, violence and intimidation of non-NDP candidate supporters marred the polls, thereby prompting the Muslim Brotherhood and the liberal Wafd Party to boycott run-off elections held last Sunday. The president is expected to inaugurate the new parliament’s first session tomorrow.
Privately-owned newspaper Al-Shorouk leads with news on strikes: “Truck owners’ strike escalates as goods begin cramming harbors,” reads the paper’s front page. The strikes, which began on Saturday, protest the government’s decision to raise vehicle taxes from six to 20 thousand Egyptian pounds and require retroactive tax payments covering the last five years, says Al-Shorouk. The paper quotes a protestor as claiming that police assembled truck owners last week “to force them not to participate in the strike.”
Moving away from political issues, the fallout from the Sharm al-Sheikh shark attacks continue to appear on front pages: “As shark leads to cancellations of New Year reservations in Sharm El-Sheikh, some trips are diverted to Hurghada and Taba,” reads independent daily Al-Wafd. Al-Wafd quotes a Sharm al-Sheikh hotel manager observing deserted beaches. Tourists already in the Red Sea resort prefer to hide in their rooms for fear of shark attacks, he noted.
Recurring shark attacks have dominated the news in recent weeks. The phenomenon perplexes experts who fail to provide a clear explanation for why the attacks occurred. Initial findings suggest that human activity lies at the problem’s root. Some experts point to the feeding of sharks by divers, a behavior may explain why the attacks took place at midday even though sharks normally eat at dawn or sunset.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run
Rose el-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party
Youm7: Weekly, privately owned
Sawt el-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
