Al-Ahram Weekly Issue No. 247 16 - 22 November 1995
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875

Opposition on the air

By Nevine Khalil

Opposition parties have repeatedly called for greater freedom of expression and unrestricted access to the public. They have been highly critical of what they describe as the government and ruling party monopoly of air-time on state-owned radio and television.
But starting last week, opposition leaders have had the chance to address the nation at prime time on the top television channel. Judging by audience reaction, however, some leaders may have done themselves a disservice, coming across the airwaves as bores, lacking in confidence and incapable of making a public address.

Seated behind a large desk adorned with a vase, in which the microphone is cunningly concealed, or standing behind a podium, most party leaders rarely took their eyes off the written material to address their audience directly. As they rushed through their party platforms, the background - a superimposed picture of bookshelves - may have proved more interesting to many viewers.

Liberal Party chairman Mustafa Kamel Murad began the television broadcasts on Saturday, followed by Ahmed Al-Sabahi, leader of the Umma (Nation) Party. With a tarboush (fez) on his head, the 80-year-old Sabahi urged President Hosni Mubarak to "temporarily step down" from the chairmanship of the National Democratic Party (NDP) during the election period. Gamal Rabie, chairman of the Misr Arab Socialist Party, came third. He rushed through his address, rising to the conclusion that "democracy is not a bridge to be destroyed after it is crossed. It is a way of life."

The week proceeded with a confident Ibrahim Shukri, leader of the Islamist-oriented Labour Party, who impressed on his audience the importance of "faith, both in God and in yourselves". In ominous tones. Osama Shaltout, leader of Al-Takaful (Social Solidarity) Party, followed to declare that Al-Takaful is "true Islam". The camera zoomed out at the end of the broadcast to Shaltout's bellows of "Al-Takaful, Al-Takaful". Next in line was Ibrahim Tork, leader of the Unionist Democratic Party, discoursing about "the separation of religion from politics" and about "politics and economy being two faces of the same coin". The bulk of Tork's address, however, focused on reviewing Egypt's history rather than presenting his party's programme.

Monday saw Khaled Mohieddin, leader of the leftist Tagammu, steadily went through his party's platform, focusing on upgrading the living standard of the working classes and the public sector, which he described as "the pivot of Egypt's economic development". Green Party leader Kamal Kira spoke of how the Greens "face challenges with scientific bravery and manly courage". He ended with the following message: "The Greens are coming".

Although Fouad Serageddin, the Wafd's chairman, was demoted from his prerevolutionary title pasha to ustaz (Mr) in the subtitle which appeared on his Tuesday broadcast, he was nevertheless allowed to film at his palatial residence, reportedly for reasons of his poor health. Sitting comfortably in front of a floral background, Serageddin urged that the Shura Council be dissolved unless it is given ore powers, and that Egypt's foreign policy be made at home and not abroad.

But it was back to those familiar book-shelves when Diaeddin Dawoud, leader of the Democratic Nasserist Party made his appearance. Appearing at ease, Dawoud said the government "was backing away from its responsibilities towards the populace." And, in true Nasserist rhetoric, asserted that the government should provide for its people, "which is in itself a long-term investment".
Information Minister Safwat El-Sherif, whose ministry oversees the Radio and Television Union, said that giving opposition parties air time was one way of "institutionalising democracy".
"We have given the parties an opportunity to explain their policies and programmes so that voters can become acquainted with them," he told Al-Ahram Weekly.

Each party was given 40 minutes on radio and 40 minutes on television, with broadcasts divided into 20-minute slots. "This is ample time when compared to time slots in the greatest democracies abroad," said El-Sherif.

But opposition leaders disagreed, although some acknowledged that it was better than nothing. "It's impossible for us to explain our economic policy and constitutional reform in the designated period." Serageddin said. He feels that two 40-minute periods would have been more beneficial.

"The time slot is nowhere near enough agreed Ibrahim Shukri. He suggested that opposition parties had access to television throughout the year, the 20-minute slots during election time could have been used more efficiently. "We would have focused exclusively on election issues," he said, adding however that "eighty minutes is better than nothing".

For Rifaat El-Said, secretary-general of Tagammu, NDP domination of the media means that opposition election broadcast cannot be more than a drop in the ocean. "Even if we got 30 hours, we would not be able to compete with the NDP, which currently swamps the news bulletins," he said.

Serageddin too believes that the prolific appearances of ministers touring the governorates in new broadcasts amounted to "government interference to influence the voters". And while opposition parties are not allowed to organise election rallies or marches, he added, "there is no chance of equal opportunities for candidates".

Other opposition leaders agree that the appearance on television of government officials inaugurating projects or holding rallies in the provinces is indirect publicity for the NDP. They also oppose a 60-second documentary clip entitled "Facts and Figures: 14 years of achievements", which carries information on economic and social achievements since President Mubarak came to power in October 1981.

El-Sherif, however, vehemently denied that the one-minute slot was advertising for the NDP. "This is Egypt. The programme acquaints Egyptians with their achievements he said. "If this is considered promotion, then it is a welcome promotion." The programme he added, was not intended to coincide with the elections but with the anniversary of Mubarak's rise to power.

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