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Baradei, Cairo, change, Egypt, El Baradie, ElBaradei, Gamal, Hosni Mubarak, Mohamed, Muhammad, regime, sarah el sirgany, محمد البرادعي
It’s safe to say that the countdown has officially begun. This year’s parliamentary elections will pave the way for the presidential elections in 2011, drawing clearer image of what to expect the following year.
But until then, it doesn’t need a genius to pinpoint the ills plaguing our opposition, supposedly those at the frontline of the battle for change. No single coalition seems to hold its original members for more than six months, regardless of the idea that first brings them together. Popular movements lose momentum almost instantly. Political parties are either too inconsequential to make a difference or are waist deep in internal conflicts between power hungry ‘politicians’, concerned with nothing more but their share of an imaginary power pie. Even the Muslim Brotherhood, whose solid structure and strong social presence had once refuted any allegations of internal rifts, is now seeing these rifts materialize and spiral out of control.
That’s on the institutional level.
On the more individual one, there isn’t a single charismatic leader that enjoys the approval of the majority, at least among the circles of politicians and journalists closely following the rickety non-ruling-party political scene. In fact, it seems that it’s only those in these small circles of activists, politicians and pseudo politicians, journalists and few interested intellects that actually know any names of Egypt’s opposition landscape.
Even with the remote possibility of those opposition figures putting aside their not-so-grave differences (or should I dare say personal interests) to stand behind one candidate from amongst their ranks, this specific candidate would find it extremely difficult to reach out to those outside the aforementioned circles, to find the mass appeal so desperately needed to propel drastic political changes.
That’s why Mohamed ElBaradie is perfect for the job; he has the star power that most of our opposition lack. Yes star power; like the entertainment industry, politics is all about star power. He has the mass appeal required for any candidate to challenge the current rulers and advocates pretty much the same political platform promoted by the opposition.
That’s why it was surprising that many opposition politicians and political parties opposed his emergence on the scene with the same enmity in which the government launched its attack on the Nobel Peace Prize winner, often with false unfounded accusations.
(Un)fortunately, the man is not running for president; the terms he had put for himself as requirements to such endeavor were clear from the very first media interview. The terms, most notably constitutional changes and guarantees of the integrity of the elections, are unlikely to materialize in Egypt in these two years. ElBaradie, like one writer put it, is on his way to be Egypt’s leading dissident, not future presidential candidate.
Supporting ElBaradie doesn’t mean supporting Mubarak’s next presidential opponent; it’s uniting behind one man that has the potential of greasing the wheels of change, setting them in motion.
He arrives today (Friday, Feb. 19) at 3 pm, and plans have been set for a grand reception the Cairo International Airport; not by the government of course, but by popular movements advocating change. This doesn’t mean that the government is not involved; in addition talks of extra security measures to control or thwart the grand reception, there are reports of financial gains. One news agency said they were asked to pay LE 1,000 to gain access to airport to take photos; something automatically granted by their press pass.
For more about ElBaradie read Alaa El-Aswany’s column in Shorouk or its translation by my friends at The Boursa Exchange.
Also, here’s a superb cartoon by my dear friend Tarek Shahin about ElBaradie’s arrival.
Sirgo’s Labyrinth 
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please count me among those honest egyptian people who got pissed off from the present rotten regeme.
I am heartly , momentarly and freely without frogering vote for elbaradie to effect the changes he sees is wright, and to candidate for ptresedency againist Gamal mubarak who is good enough in his mother,s eyes following the say abeatle saw her kids on the wall…!!!
Ubama would ,if he is wise enough.
help Albaradie to over through Mubarak non demovratic regeme to clear this area from a headache he is always asked to do.
YA RABB HELP EGYPTIAN PEOPLE THE HAVE BECOME THE
MOST POOR PEOPLE ON UR EARTH< AND THEY DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT
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The change is inevitable. But it will need sacrifices. The situation in Egypt has become intolerable. The failure of the regime is evident in every respect, both internally and externally. A weak and lame Egypt equals weak and lame Arab World and vice versa. Egypt has all the potentials of a powerful and capable country it only needs a capable leadership. The current leadership and all its entourage lacks capability,imagination and vision for such a task. Al Baradie is a capable leadership for the task. It is about time for the country to get what it deserves. A leadership with a clear vision, where priority goes to rehabilitation of the country’s institutions helped by the learned and the capable where science and Knowledge take over.
the MONAFEKEEN are too many in our poor country
they will do any thing in order to this rotten regime to continue suckking the blood of the people
the president has become an old bag.probably he does,nt feel around other wise he would have taken actions. to leave as soon as possible.
good he has aparted his un beloved son out of the scene.
Mohamed El Bradie is a rare phenomionon
yes he is a rare phenomionon
He is not just able and have a vision , he is Mr honest Mr clean Mr accountable -psudo ntellectuals could spine day and night – El baradie is unique – if he appeared during Nasser he would have disappeared in a jar of acid and of course a state funeral .one fact there are several people reached the highest level In state despite their past personal criminal history . The people who really feel the threat of Mr Clean are the media fat cats who enjoyed Saddams luxury Mercs. I am proud to have coined ElBaradie comparison to Mahatma Ghandi and Nuhro – this is no exageration -it is a well considered opinion . A leader DOES NOT say he is a leader -and people like me say this for love of Egypt not to score on his enemies who are numerious fat cats or sub-fat-cats- such people have loyality except to their pockets .
Dr Wafik Moustafa
London
Egypt will need apeacful transfere of power to the people.
the current public institutions are not fit to carry out this sea of change. Hence democracy and rule of law are essential first step. Egypt have 50 million people under povery line (Gaza had 20,000).
The scale of misery is formidable.
Egypt 19 th century modernisation was achieved by experts from the West -Aswan High Dam, The High Dam, and Universities , the army and modern constitutions are a small example .
El Baradie is a pure Egyptian with Western experience -Is a great asset for the 50 millions under poverty line and the 30 millions above povery line.
Dr Wafik Moustafa
O Egypt
O Egypt,
Pharaohs did not build you.
Your people did.
O Egypt,
Rulers did not write your history.
Your people did.
O Egypt,
Tyrants did not win my heart.
Your people did.
O Egypt,
Your people love you.
You must love your people.