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Background Basics

Egypt’s Important Political Players

posted on 05/07/08

Hosni Mubarak, president: A former air force officer and vice president, he took office in 1981 after the assassination of President Anwar Sadat. Mubarak is Egypt’s longest-serving president and ran unopposed in his four previous terms. In 2005, he was reelected in the country’s first multi-candidate race, a vote reportedly controlled by his ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). Concerns about his age and health, denied by the government, have raised questions about a possible successor to Mubarak. In March 2008, Editor-in-Chief of Al-Dustur Ibrahim Eissa was sentenced to six months in jail for allegedly spreading such rumors.

Ahmed Nazif, prime minister: Nazif, the former minister of communications and technology, was a surprise choice for Prime Minister in 2004, because he did not have an economic or political background. As prime minister, Nazif included members from the private sector in his cabinet for the first time in Egypt’s history, and instituted reforms that many analysts say contributed to steady economic growth in Egypt. Some critics blame Nazif for initiating economic policies that have not helped Egypt’s lower socio-economic class, especially in light of the recent dramatic rise in food costs.

Ahmad Aboul Gheit, foreign minister: In his current position since 2004, Aboul Gheit was the former ambassador to the United Nations. He has been active in promoting an Egyptian- sponsored ceasefire in Gaza. Aboul Gheit recently met with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni at a meeting of donors to the Palestinian Authority in London, where he invited her to visit Cairo. Relations between Aboul Gheit and Livni became strained in January 2008 when he criticized her for a video Israel sent to the United States demonstrating Egyptian involvement in arms and militant smuggling into Gaza.

Omar Suleiman, chief of the Egyptian Intelligence Service: Suleiman has long played a part in Palestinian politics. In 2003, he facilitated negotiations that helped form a new Palestinian government as part of the road map peace process. Suleiman was also involved in the training of Palestinian security forces in the lead up to Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza in 2005. When fighting broke out between Fatah and Hamas in 2007, Suleiman presided over meetings between the two sides. More recently, he has played a central role in promoting an Egyptian-led ceasefire between militant groups in Gaza and Israel. Suleiman is expected to meet with Israeli officials after Israel’s Independence Day, to discuss the ceasefire that was previously accepted by the militant groups. Suleiman is also mentioned as a possible successor to Mubarak because of his connections to the military, and his similar outlook towards Israel and the United States as President Mubarak’s. He is not a member of the NDP, however, and would have to resign from his post and spend one year as a party official to become eligible for the presidency.

Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Armed Forces and minister of defense: Despite the military’s powerful role in Egypt’s system, the military has recently remained quiet about a possible successor to President Mubarak. This silence is viewed by some as an indication that the military is willing to accept a civilian president, provided this does not create instability in the country. There are also specific concerns about Tantawi’s age and health status. Since 1981, Mubarak has taken efforts to separate the military from politics by granting it economic privileges and giving greater power to the internal security forces that have authority within Egypt.

Dr. Ahmad Fathi Sorour, speaker of People’s Assembly, lower parliamentary house: According to the constitution if President Mubarak were to die in office, Sorour, the country’s most senior elected official, would take over for 60 days until the new elections were held. In March 2008, Sorour visited the United States, where he met with administration officials and members of Congress. Sorour discussed the political situation in Egypt, the imprisonment of opposition leader Ayman Nour and the government’s role in promoting an Egyptian-sponsored ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.

Dr. Safwat Sherif, speaker of the Shura Council, upper parliamentary house, and secretary general of the NDP: Sherif became speaker in 2004 after serving as Minister of Information for 22 years, a position in which he held considerable power. The switch, ordered by President Mubarak, left Sherif in a position of arguably less political power. Commentators saw the influence of Gamal Mubarak in the move, and NDP officials indicated that the move helped him to gain prestige within the NDP.

Gamal Mubarak, assistant secretary general of the NDP: Since the last party convention in 2002, the son of President Mubarak and former investment banker has risen to the second most powerful rank in the NDP and heads the party’s policymaking committee. In this position, he helped isolate the Muslim Brotherhood from the government by supporting initiatives to expand NDP powers and block opposition challenges, including banning religious political groups. There has been a lively debate over the possibility of Gamal Mubarak succeeding his father as president. In 2007, the government changed its laws, creating the 50-member Supreme Committee that will choose a presidential candidate from within its ranks. The NDP subsequently elected Gamal Mubarak to the committee, drawing criticism that this served to subtly transition him into a possible successor role to his father. Gamal denied that the change of the laws made it easier for him to become president.

Amr Moussa, secretary general of the Arab League: Moussa was widely supported within Egypt in his former role as foreign minister from 1991-2001, largely because of his sharp criticisms of Israel, which included condemning Israel for its actions on the peace process and its unwillingness to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. Speculation exists that Moussa’s large domestic following may have played a role in his departure from the Egyptian government, because Mubarak saw him as somewhat of a rival. Moussa has changed the traditional attitudes of the Arab League since his appointment in 2001. He was seen as playing an influential role in the League supporting the 2002 Saudi Peace Initiative and its recognition of Israel’s right to exist, a change from its former policies. Moussa has also taken on risks by citing sectarian and religious tendencies, and not just the presence of U.S. troops, as the roots of violence in Iraq. In the ongoing Lebanese political crisis, Moussa has been leading Arab League efforts to mediate a solution. Moussa is critical of U.S. policies in the Middle East, condemning what he sees as the unwillingness of the United States to exert leverage over Israel to stop expanding settlements and the U.S. policy approach to Iran.