Press release
Cairo: 16/10/2003

The Committee of Defending Democracy

Political and Constitutional Reform: An Introduction to a Serious Dialogue

The Committee of Defending Democracy discussed the speech delivered by the President of the Republic before the members of the National Democratic Party (NDP) on September 29, 2003. In his speech, the president called for a national dialogue between the various parties and the ruling party with a view to achieving political reform in Egypt.

      Welcoming such a step towards dialogue between parties and political powers, the committee of Defending Democracy deems it necessary to ensure the guarantees required for achieving a serious and effective dialogue. Such guarantees are essential for avoiding the negative implications of former calls for dialogue that were fruitless. Furthermore, the views of the opposition parties and the political powers were not heeded by the ruling party; NDP. The said parties had reiterated on various occasions their calls for taking serious measures towards achieving a true democratic development, and working on liberating political life from the fetters it is subject to as well as the violation of public freedom and the basic human rights.

       The Committee for Defending Democracy reiterates its urgent appeal for achieving political, constitutional and democratic reform which it had prepared previously. Such appeal was signed by the heads of parties as well as public figures. It includes seven demands:

1-     Electing the president of the Republic and his deputies through direct free ballot and among various nominees. During the term of office, the president and his deputies should give up their party inclinations. Minimizing the absolute authorities granted to the president as per the Constitution and abolishing Article No. 74 of the Egyptian Constitution to prevent abusing the absolute authorities stipulated in such Article. Such amendments should be made to the Constitution before the end of the current term of office in 2005.

2-     Abolishing the state of emergency, releasing political detainees, acquitting political detainees in cases other than violence, and re-trialing those who were interrogated before military courts.

3-     Ensuring the guarantees of the integrity and freedom of elections. Establishing an independent permanent committee to be solely responsible for managing elections and referendums.

4-     Guaranteeing the freedom of establishing parties under normal judiciary and Constitutional provisions. Abolishing the restrictions on peaceful popular activity including the right to demonstrate, strike, to hold conferences and to disseminate press releases.

5-     Full separation between the NDP and the state agencies.

6-     Ensuring the independence of labor and professional syndicates, NGOs, and civil societies aiming at establishing a civil society capable of promoting democracy and progress.

7-     Guaranteeing the freedom of the press and ownership of mass media from the control of the Executive authority. Providing equal opportunities for parties, political authorities and all intellectual and democratic currents and tendencies to express their opinions through the various means of mass media.

        The Committee for Defending Democracy is of the view that fulfilling such demands is the first step towards a national dialogue for achieving a peaceful transition of power and stability under changing world circumstances and internal challenges. Such internal challenges threaten stability and pave the way for foreign intervention that might endanger national independence.

        Therefore, the committee believes that political and constitutional reform is the only means to enhance patriotism and the participation of the society in building the future. It is also the only means towards achieving stability by transforming Egypt into a parliamentary Republic in which the president of the Republic acts as a president and as a symbol of the state. The nation would be the source of all authorities and would be based on true political party plurality. Governments would depend on the people’s representatives and would shoulder the ministerial responsibility before them.