Election campaign in full swing
2005-08-24 13:57
Cairo - Egypt's first competitive presidential campaign was in full swing two weeks before the poll, with incumbent Hosni Mubarak pledging a fair election but opposition candidates and rights groups crying foul.
A week after the start of the campaign, there was little sign of great popular fervour as 32 millions voters mulled their choice for the September 7 election.
The 77-year-old Mubarak, who has been in power for 24 years, has been leading an aggressive campaign, criss-crossing the country to promise four million new jobs if re-elected and billions of dollars to boost the economy.
Under international and domestic pressure to organise transparent elections and deliver on democratic reform, Mubarak has opted for a United States -style campaign which betrays the handiwork of his influential Western-educated son Gamal.
Campaign criticised
But analysts and political opponents have charged that his campaign pledges are unrealistic and the campaign did not abide by international standards.
The two candidates tipped for second place in the election - Ghad party leader Ayman Nur and liberal Wafd chairperson Numan Gumaa - have been denouncing countless violations by Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party.
The independent Al-Masri Al-Yom newspaper said the top three state-run dailies had published 13 878 words on Mubarak's campaign in their Monday edition and 3 000 on his nine rivals put together.
Opposition candidates has also charged that Mubarak - who is in theory restricted by the same campaign rules - had timed events in which he appears in his presidential capacity in order to boost his campaign.
The independent Al-Dustour alleged that Mubarak in recent months had inaugurated a string of power plants, hospitals or bridges which had either been up and running for several years or were far from being completed.
Debate over election monitoring
But one of the main battles was being fought over the issue of election monitoring, as the country's judges continued to complain they were not being given enough freedom to guarantee transparent elections.
The judges syndicate is due to hold a meeting on September 2 to decide whether to boycott the vote altogether.
Most of Mubarak's competitors believe the election results will be rigged and while they have not always welcomed US calls for international observers, they have supported Egyptian civil society initiatives to monitor the poll.
The first week of the campaign also saw the much courted Muslim Brotherhood urge its large following to cast a ballot on September but refuse to endorse a specific candidate.
The historic poll comes against a tense security backdrop, with Egyptian security forces raiding areas in the Sinai for Bedouins suspected of involvement in recent attacks.
- AFP