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Al-Ahram Weekly 30 March - 5 April 2000 Issue No. 475 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 30 March - 5 April 2000 Issue No. 475
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Special Focus Travel Living Sports Profile People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Liberal claims and counterclaims
By Mona El-Nahhas
The Liberal Party's secretary-general, Ragab Helal Hemeida, who has been competing with eight others for the post of party chairman, has renounced his claim to the post, which became vacant following the death of Mustafa Kamel Murad in 1998. Hemeida submitted an official document to the Political Parties Committee two weeks ago, declaring that he withdrew his claim in favour of Talaat El-Sadat, the party's legal adviser. Leading party members viewed the step as part of "a game of promoting interests," arguing that Hemeida has no authority to act in this way, simply because he is not the party's leader.
Talaat El-Sadat, a nephew of the late President Anwar El-Sadat, who joined party ranks nearly two years ago, had earlier filed several complaints with the Attorney-General, accusing Hemeida of misusing the party's funds and demanding that he be stripped of his parliamentary immunity. Hemeida is the Liberal Party's sole representative in the People's Assembly. The Assembly rejected El-Sadat's request on the grounds that it is motivated by malice. Although Al-Ahram Weekly acquired a copy of Hemeida's declaration to the Political Parties Committee, he told the newspaper that he had not renounced his claim to the post of party chairman and declined to elaborate.
Hemeida's denial took El-Sadat by surprise. "I cannot imagine how he could make such a strange statement, after submitting an official document to the Political Parties Committee, asserting that I am the most worthy person to lead the party at this critical stage," remarked El-Sadat.
In his signed notification to the Political Parties Committee, dated 14 March, Hemeida stated his complete approval of the recommendations of a party meeting that was held in October 1998 and which had asked Talaat El-Sadat to take over the party's chairmanship temporarily until the election of a new leader. Hemeida also declared that he would work side-by-side with El-Sadat as the party's secretary-general, adding that he would be acting in this way in the Liberal Party's' interest.
Hemeida had previously informed the Political Parties Committee that he was elected party chairman at a general meeting held in October 1998. But, in the 14 March notice Hemeida asked the committee to consider that meeting as null and void.
The Political Parties Committee has no legal right to decide on the leadership of a party; .its role is to request the competing leaders to either reach agreement or resort to litigation.
The Liberal Party, which is considered by analysts as having no specific character because it combines various political trends, has been in a state of disarray since 1998. Each of the party's nine vice-chairmen has claimed the chairmanship and alleged that he was elected party chairman at a general congress, citing different dates.
Helmi Salem, one of the nine, said that his legal position has a solid basis, because he is the most senior deputy and one of the party's founders. Salem claimed that the general secretariat asked him to act as party chairman at a meeting held two weeks ago, adding that he will continue to perform this role until the election of a new leader.
Salem added that the general secretariat, at its meeting, decided that the other rivals will retain the posts they used to occupy before the death of Murad. "I will not allow those who have no experience to tear apart the structure of our party and tarnish its long history of struggle," Salem said.
For his part, El-Sadat said that none of the rivals can compete with him for the leadership of the party. "The Liberal Party, at this stage, is in need of complete restructuring before the coming parliamentary elections," he said, adding that his rivals were not capable of achieving this.
