Egypt's ruling party is unlikely to pick a candidate for the 2011 presidential election at its conference in October, the prime minister said on Wednesday, leaving it open whether President Hosni Mubarak will run again.No ruling party pick yet for Egypt 2011 president vote - September 30, 2009 - 12:11
By Alastair Sharp and Maha El Dahan
CAIRO (Reuters)
Egypt's ruling party is unlikely to pick a candidate for the 2011 presidential election at its conference in October, the prime minister said on Wednesday, leaving it open whether President Hosni Mubarak will run again.
Mubarak, 81, in power since 1981, has dodged making a commitment on whether he will seek a sixth six-year term and has never appointed a successor, encouraging speculation about who will govern next. Many expect his son, Gamal, to succeed him.
Speculation about the succession has gathered pace as the next presidential race in 2011 draws closer and ahead of the National Democratic Party's annual conference, which opens on October 30.
"I don't think that's going to happen this year, for sure," Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif told an economic conference when asked from the floor if the ruling party would pick its candidate at the October meeting.
Political analysts say the rules governing the presidential race make it almost impossible for the ruling party's candidate to face a serious challenger.
When asked in a U.S. television interview in August if he planned to run for another term, Mubarak said the issue of whether "to renew or not to renew" was not his main concern. "I am not thinking about this now," the president added.
The most common view is that Mubarak's son Gamal, 45, a former investment banker, is being groomed for office. He already holds a senior post in the ruling party, where he heads the policy secretariat.
Both father and son deny such plans. Mubarak repeated this position in his August interview. "Look, this was never raised between myself and my son," he said.
When Nazif was asked if Mubarak should name a successor, the prime minister responded: "This is a double standard. When there is a nominated successor they say 'what about democracy?' 'what about the right of the people to choose?'"
Analysts say a succession by Gamal Mubarak is not a certainty even if it seems the most likely scenario, partly because the president's son may not have the power base or influence to secure the country's top post.
Gamal Mubarak has no military background, unlike all three presidents since the monarchy was overthrown in 1952 -- including his father who was an air force commander.
The most commonly discussed alternative name is Omar Suleiman, Egypt's intelligence chief, who has played a key role in Middle East peace mediation efforts.
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