NDP elections

NOMINATIONS for the ruling National Democratic Party's (NDP) internal elections began on Sunday and lasted for two days. Initial reports show that a large number of the party's female and young members have registered for the elections. NDP's Secretary- General Safwat El-Sherif indicated that the internal elections aim at rejuvenating the party's ranks and attracting young members. To achieve this objective, the elections, scheduled between 18 August and 10 September, will fill 7,555 positions at the village, town and governorate levels. El-Sherif explained that each local party unit will elect 20 representatives by secret ballot and that two of the representatives must be under 25 and two women.

On Monday, the NDP chairman, President Hosni Mubarak met the party's six-member steering office to review preparations for the party's ninth congress scheduled 3-5 November. El-Sherif indicated that for the first time, the congress will witness the staging of elections for the position of party chairman. "This will take place during the first session of the congress and the NDP is keen that more than one candidate will compete for this position," El-Sherif stated. These elections, he added, will be headed by the ruling party's oldest member and supervised by two highly experienced judges.

Gamal Mubarak, the president's 44- year-old son and chairman of the influential Policies Committee, reviewed the congress' agenda of issues. "The review indicated that the issues of unemployment, public services, freedom and democratic practices will top the congress agenda," stated El-Sherif.

The secretary-general also revealed that more than 200,000 citizens have recently joined the party's ranks, increasing its membership by 20 per cent. According to semi-official figures, NDP members are estimated at two million.

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