Archive for National Democratic Party

Mansour Hassan, stalwart of former President Anwar Sadat’s regime, dies

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December 22nd, 2012

 

Mansour Hassan, a veteran Egyptian politician who headed an advisory council to the once ruling military generals, passed away on Saturday. He was 75 years old.

His son Mohamed told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Hassan passed away Saturday afternoon, adding that the time of his funeral will be decided soon.

Hassan was born in 1937 and rose to become one of former President Anwar Sadat’s top aides in the 1970s. He was one of the main figures involved in founding the National Democratic Party in 1978. Sadat appointed him minister of information and culture in 1970 and minister of state for presidential affairs in 1981.

He was the chairman of the Advisory Council of Egypt between 8 September 2011 and 8 March 2012 and was close to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Last March, he announced his intention to run in the first presidential elections after the fall of Mubarak, an announcement that was widely criticized by liberal and secular forces, due to his close ties with SCAF.

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Ezz, others to be retried in steel licenses case

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December 20th, 2012

The Court of Cassation reversed a Cairo Criminal Court ruling sentencing three former regime officials to prison in the “steel licenses” case, and ordered that they be retried before new judges.

Steel tycoon Ahmed Ezz, former organization secretary for the now disbanded National Democratic Party and Amr Assal, former chairman of the Industrial Development Authority, had been sentenced to 10 years in prison, while former Trade and Industry Minister Rachid Mohamed Rachid had been sentence to 15 years in absentia. They were found guilty of profiteering and squandering LE660 million in public funds by obtaining two licenses to produce steel for free, violating a law stipulating that such licenses be granted through a public bid.

Justice Minister Ahmed Mekky said there was a plan to reconcile with some businessmen associated with the former regime to reevaluate how they had obtained their assets.

“This applies to Ezz as an ‘investor,’ not as a ‘politician,’” he said.

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Brotherhood supreme guide accuses media of inciting against Morsy

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November 21st, 2012

Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie on Tuesday accused some talk show hosts and media outlets, which he didn’t name, of agitating citizens against President Mohamed Morsy.

In a speech at Amr Ibn al-As mosque in Cairo, he urged talk show hosts to speak the truth and refrain from guiding public opinion to serve the interests of certain people, and away from the interests of the country, as he put it.

“They play on the emotions of ordinary people to influence them against the stability of the country,” he said. “And they spread rumors and lies to create uncontrollable chaos. They used the Assiut train accident to agitate citizens against the president.”

Badie also commended the Constituent Assembly. “We had a bad constitution under the former regime, for which injustice was sacred,” he said. “The assembly put forth considerable effort to come up with a consensual draft.”

He urged all Egyptians to return to what he called “Tahrir Square ethics,” in which differences between Muslims and Christians, liberals and leftists, and citizens and the police were resolved, he claimed.

He also called on all citizens to support the president. “We must all share responsibility, whether rulers or subjects,” he said.

Badie caused wide controversy in March when he launched a sharp attack on media outlets, accusing them of tarnishing the Brotherhood’s image.

“The devil inspires the media to create an image of the Brotherhood as a substitute of the National Democratic Party that will destroy the country,” Badie said.

Badie’s statements at that time caused uproar among media workers. Journalists Syndicate deputy head Gamal Fahmy said the statements were “not new as everyone knows the Brotherhood does not support freedom of expression.”

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Facing criticism, Sabbahi defends meeting with top prosecutor

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November 7th, 2012

Former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi said he met with the public prosecutor last week to discuss the grievances of private citizens and not for any political motivation.

The Popular Current Party founder, who finished third in presidential elections this year, has been under fire for convening with Public Prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud.

The Public Prosecution led by Mahmoud has been the object of public outrage since six former Interior Ministry officials were exonerated in June of killing revolution protesters in a trial alongside former President Hosni Mubarak.

"My visit to the public prosecutor did not discuss public issues, but rather cases involving two Baltim citizens," he told satellite channel Misr 25 in a phone call Tuesday. Baltim is a city in the Nile Delta governorate Kafr al-Sheikh.  

One incident, he said, concerns Popular Current member Mansour al-Shehawy, who was allegedly denied access to the province's governor and chased by police dogs, while the other involves a citizen allegedly abused by police officers.

"That was not for political purposes, it was rather my relations with Baltim citizens that prompted me to demand their rights," Sabbahi said.

Demonstrators have protested the prosecution's failure to gather sufficient evidence for convictions of former officials and demanded Mahmoud's removal. Those calls were reiterated after several top officials from Mubarak's now-dissolved National Democratic Party were also acquitted of killing protesters in the infamous February 2011 Battle of the Camel.  

In October, President Mohamed Morsy tried to appoint Mahmoud ambassador to the Vatican, but the latter refused the new post and said he would maintain his office because the president does not have the authority to remove judicial officials.

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Constituent Assembly member: Public prosecutor threatened me

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November 6th, 2012

Constituent Assembly member Mohamed Abdel Moneim al-Sawy said he received threats from Public Prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud after he had filed a complaint against him on Sunday, accusing him of covering up corruption cases.

“The public prosecutor phoned me and threatened that he possesses old documents that he would file against me soon if I do not withdraw the complaints I submitted against him to the Justice Minister,” Sawy told Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated satellite channel Misr 25 late Monday over the phone.

Former MP Essam Sultan confirmed Sawy's claim on his Facebook page Monday. " Mr. public prosecutor, we reject your threats, we will never stop, the law will be applied with you," he wrote.

The public prosecution, led by Mahmoud, has been under fire since the exoneration of former Interior Ministry officials from charges of ordering the murder of pro-democracy protesters who forced former president Mubarak to step down in February 2011. Protesters have demanded the removal of Mahmoud over the institution's failure to gather sufficient evidence to convict the defendants.

A fresh wave of protest voicing the same demand followed the acquittal of several key officials from Mubarak's now-dissolved National Democratic Party on charges that they killed protesters in February 2011 in Tahrir Square, a case famously known as the Battle of the Camel.

In October, President Mohamed Morsy ordered Mahmoud to be appointed as ambassador to the Vatican, practically removing him from office, but the latter refused the new post and said he would maintain his office. Morsy yielded to pressure from the judiciary and backtracked on his decision.

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Imprisoned ex-information minister suffers second heart attack

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November 4th, 2012

Former Information Minister Anas al-Fiqqi suffered a heart attack on Saturday afternoon and was transported to Qasr al-Aini hospital, state-owned Al-Ahram reported.

Fiqqi was stricken while he was in his prison cell in Tora. He was transported to the hospital with permission from prison authorities. He is currently in the Intensive Care Unit.

Fiqqi had previously suffered a heart attack on Thursday and was taken to a hospital for treatment before being returned to prison after his health improved.

In September 2011, the Cairo Criminal Court dismissed Fiqqi from his position and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

Prosecutors charged Fiqqi with granting broadcasting rights for Egypt's premier football league matches in 2009, 2010 and 2011 to private satellite channels free of charge, costing the state LE1.89 million in losses. In July 2011, Fiqqi was acquitted in a separate case of squandering public funds on political propaganda for the former ruling National Democratic Party.

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Former minister suffers heart attack in prison

by admin
November 1st, 2012

Former Information Minister Anas al-Fiqqi was transferred to Qasr al-Aini Hospital Thursday after suffering from a heart attack at al-Qanater al-Khayreya Prison.

In September 2011, Cairo Criminal Court dismissed Fiqqi from his position and sentenced him to seven years in prison.

Prosecutors charged Fiqqi with granting broadcasting rights for Egypt's premier football league matches in 2009, 2010 and 2011 to private satellite channels free of charge, costing the state LE1.89 million in losses. In July 2011, Fiqqi was acquitted in a separate case of squandering public funds on political propaganda for the former ruling National Democratic Party.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Aswan governor resigns after protests

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October 23rd, 2012

Aswan Governor Mostafa al-Sayed resigned Tuesday morning after a month-long campaign by a large number of local activists demanding his removal.

Revolutionary forces in Aswan had long raised concerns about the governor's ties to the regime of erstwhile President Hosni Mubarak, accusing him of corruption and supporting the formerly ruling National Democratic Party.

Dozens had staged a sit-in outside the governorate’s building on Monday, moving from Durrat al-Nil park where they previously held a month-long sit-in. They denounced President Mohamed Morsy's disregard for their demands after he responded to similar calls by the citizens of Marsa Matrouh and appointed a new governor there.

Sayed had served in his post since April 2008, and previously served as assistant to the armed forces’ chief of staff. He took part in the Six Days War and the 1973 War. He had obtained honorary medals for his time in military service.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Sorour back in custody, arrest warrant issued for Ibrahim Kamel

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October 15th, 2012

New charges are being leveled at former officials from ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, who just last week were acquitted of charges that they incited the killing of demonstrators during the 25 January revolution.

The Illicit Gains Authority began conducting investigations on Monday into the two individuals, Fathi Sorour and Ibrahim Kamel.

After a day-long interrogation today, authority head Judge Yehia Galal remanded former Parliament speaker Sorour into custody for 15 days pending investigation into how he acquired his wealth.

Sorour reported himself to the authority today 24 hours after the investigating body issued a warrant for his arrest after he twice failed to appear before them for interrogations.

The authority also issued an arrest warrant for Kamel, a businessman and former leading figure at the now dissolved National Democratic Party, who is also accused of amassing large fortunes illegally. Kamel also failed to appear for investigations.

In addition, the authority ordered the freezing of Kamel’s assets.

The two suspects, along with 22 other Mubarak era figures, stood trial on charges of killing protesters in the Battle of the Camel incident on 2 and 3 February last year during the uprising that ousted Mubarak.

On 2 February 2011, peaceful pro-democracy demonstrators were attacked by assailants in Tahrir Square, some of whom rode horses and camels. At least 11 protesters were killed and hundreds were injured.

On Wednesday, Cairo Criminal Court acquitted all 24 defendants in the case. Among those on trial were former Shura Council Speaker Safwat al-Sherif, ceramics tycoon Mohamed Abul Enein, former Manpower and Immigration Minister Aisha Abdel Hady, and Hussein Megawer, former head of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation.

The court ruling caused outrage and hundreds took to the streets to protest it.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Mubarak-era politicians prepare for next parliament polls

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October 15th, 2012

Political figures who belonged to the now-dissolved National Democratic Party are set to convene late Monday to discuss plans for competing in the next parliamentary elections.

Haydar Baghdady, a prominent NDP figure, told Turkish news agency Anadolu that the People’s Representatives Alliance — a coalition of 217 former NDP members — would hold its meeting at a Cairo hotel.

He said 130 former party leaders will compete in the elections, which are expected late this year or early next year after the constitution is approved.

That number could increase, he added.

Baghdady said the meeting would tackle the alliance’s stance on the constitution draft recently introduced by the Constituent Assembly, and whether the alliance would protest the draft.

The meeting will also handle the names of the alliance’s candidates, the possibility of forming electoral alliances with other parties, and the launching a website for the new entity, he said.

Baghdady denied that the alliance intended to revive the NDP.

“We adhere to the revolution’s goals and refuse to return the party that caused the people to revolt,” he stressed, adding that current alliance members, despite being former NDP figures, had not been close to the regime or faced corruption charges.

Only 11 former NDP members were elected in the People’s Assembly elections in early January, before the assembly was dissolved in June based on a court ruling.

The announcement of the alliance comes amid soaring fury over the exoneration of several former NDP officials Wednesday on charges of orchestrating a bloody assault on protesters during the revolution last year that came to be known as the “Battle of the Camel.”

In September last year, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled that NDP members could run in future elections.

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