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| Interviewee: | Ayman Nour |
|---|---|
| Interviewer: | Sharon Otterman |
September 6, 2005
Egyptians head to the polls September 7 to elect a president for the first time in their nation's history. Challenger Ayman Nour, a 41-year-old Egyptian parliamentarian and leader of the reformist al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Party, says he thinks Egyptians would reject the nation’s leader for more than two decades, Hosni Mubarak, if given the chance.
“If the elections were free and fair,” he says, “I believe that President Mubarak would not get a large number of votes. Wide sections of Egyptian society see that twenty-four years [of Mubarak’s rule] is a very long length of time to go without results.”
Nour was imprisoned by the Egyptian government for forty-five days this year on charges he forged signatures on a candidate petition. He was released on probation after strong international pressure, including from U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who cancelled a trip to Egypt to protest his detention. The case will return to court September 25.
During the whirlwind three-week campaign period, Nour attracted hundreds of supporters to political rallies in more than a dozen cities. An estimated 5,000 people—the largest crowd for any Mubarak challenger—turned out in Cairo's Tahrir Square September 3 to listen to Nour criticize corruption and promise additional support for Egypt’s millions of poor and unemployed.
With no accurate polling in Egypt due to government restrictions, Nour’s support among likely voters is difficult, if not impossible, to gauge. Some informal polls put his support as high as 30 or 40 percent. But most analysts—and Egyptians—still believe a strong Mubarak victory is assured.
Nour was interviewed through a translator at his home in Cairo by Sharon Otterman, former associate director of cfr.org, on September 5.
You’ve just wrapped up your presidential campaign with an enthusiastic rally here inCairo. Looking back, what do feel you’ve been able to accomplish these past weeks?
The campaign was very short, only eighteen days. We accomplished part of our mission to communicate with a huge number people from various sectors of Egyptian society. We had twenty-three rallies and visited eleven governorates. We were the most attractive campaign to the Egyptian people, obviously, with huge numbers of people coming to our events. So we feel we accomplished a part of our goals. When the results are out, they will demonstrate whether the election was free and fair enough to reflect the support we know we have from the people.
What is your best guess as to the final results?
If the elections were free and fair, I believe that President Mubarak would not get a large number of votes. Wide sections of the Egyptian community see that twenty-four years [of Mubarak rule] is a very long length of time to go without results. But if the elections are rigged, anything is possible.
Will the election be rigged?
The election will be neither free nor fair.
Many aspects of this election have already been criticized by domestic and international observers. Despite this and your own concerns, do you think this election represents an important step forward for Egypt?
No doubt, it’s a step, but it’s a limited step. There has already been a democratic system in Egypt, from 1923 to 1952. It is not enough for Egypt to have this election, with all of its flaws. There must be more reform.
When do you believe Egypt could emerge as a fully functioning democracy?
It could happen tomorrow in Egypt. Egypt is ready.
A number of opposition groups, including the Kifaya (Enough!) movement, are calling on Egyptians to boycott the election. They believe it is useless to participate because the election will not be fair. Do you think their stance is counterproductive?
It is their right to choose this option, and I respect their point of view. But I believe that boycotting is not the appropriate answer in response to a ruler determined to stay in power no matter what. I believe we need to participate to bring change.
What role do you think the Muslim Brotherhood play in this election? They have called on their many followers to vote, but have not specified a candidate.
Until now, their stance is still unclear, and I can’t speculate on it. As far as my campaign is concerned, however, it was not my goal to win the support of the Brotherhood or any other group. My goal is to gain constitutional rights for everyone, and to make sure all parties can run for office without restrictions. For their part, the members of the Muslim Brotherhood should participate in this election as any other Egyptian citizens.
Did you seek the endorsement of the Muslim Brotherhood in the course of this campaign?
I went to tell them about my election program. My goal was not more than that, to tell them about my program, to tell them as much as possible about everything I will do if elected. It is the same I would do for anyone else.
Your next challenge after this election will be facing the courts September 25 in the forgery case against you. Do you think the charges could be dismissed?
It is a fabricated case—I know that, and everyone knows that. I believe in justice, and I believe in Egypt’s judges. So I hope for the best.
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