Failed foreign policy. Imperialism. No blood for oil. Zionist neocons. Blah-blah-blah.

A constitutional amendment introducing the first direct and contested presidential elections in Egypt won 82.9 percent approval in a referendum, Interior Minister Habib el-Adli announced on Thursday.

The turnout in the referendum, which opposition groups had asked Egyptians to boycott, was 53.6 percent of registered voters, the minister told a news conference.

The new system, replacing referendums on a single presidential candidate chosen by a parliament dominated by the ruling party, takes effect in elections in September.

President Hosni Mubarak, 77, who has run the Arab world's most populous nation since 1981, is expected to seek a fifth six-year term but has not yet said whether he will stand.

The opposition says the conditions on presidential candidates are so restrictive that the ruling party would not face a credible challenge.

Posted by: Rusty at 03:07 PM | Comments (4) | Add Comment
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1 This is actually a negative development. With the new law, the only people that can run against the president need to be approved by the president. Therefore, he ensures his competition is weak. The opposition (Kafeya) attempted to boycott the vote, as it is much difficult to ammend a law once it is in place. They believe that the entire law needs to be rewritten to allow anyone the opportunity to run in the election. Thus, this vote for "democracy" was a sham to ensure Mubarak stays in power

Posted by: Nick at May 26, 2005 04:32 PM (osgBA)

2 "The opposition says the conditions on presidential candidates are so restrictive that the ruling party would not face a credible challenge. " This way we can both point to change and not change at all. Sure to be ho-hum happy for the wingers at home.

Posted by: actus at May 26, 2005 05:54 PM (Ygl+x)

3 Dude, what is your obsession with Kip Winger's fans? I'm guessing you're a big Hanson fanboy, right? Fag.

Posted by: Improbulus Maximus at May 26, 2005 08:59 PM (0yYS2)

4 Hosni Mubarak is Egypts Urho K. Kekkonen, he will rule until he gets so old he goes all mumbly and wierd. Also, after he goes, Egypt will most likely fall into depression for 5 years after which they get companies like Al-Nokiak or Masah-Yardsni to give them an economic booster followed by a fast growth in economy.

Posted by: A Finn at May 27, 2005 05:08 AM (cWMi4)

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