THE ruling National Democratic Party (NDP)will not change any of its leaders in its annual congress later this month,Safwat el-Sherif,the secretary-general of the party, said yesterday.He added that the congress,which is slated for October 30,would only address 'the vital concerns of the public and means of meeting their needs '
This congress will be concerned with discussing what has already been achieved of President Hosni Mubarak's electoral programme,"el-Sherif told the visitors of the party's website.Apparently seeking to counter claims that the annual conference of the party will pave the way for political succession,which is a hot topic for both local and foreign media,el-Sherif said party elections happened only during the general congress of the party,an event held every four years.He said the annual conference,which this year takes the slogan 'Just for You', would address a number of 'important issues ',including respect for citizenship rights,social justice,and corruption."Social justice will be the main theme of the congress,"el-Sherif said.“Justice isn 't only about distributing the fruits of development,but is also about providing services and job opportunities,"he added.El-Sherif,who is also the chairman of the Shura Council (the Upper House of Egyptian Parliament),did not forget to reiterate the Egyptian Government 's firm stance against the presence of political movements with a religious background.He said the Government would not accept the emergence of a political sys- tem based on religion.“We wouldn 't accept that in any manner,”he said.“A political system based on religion is totally out of the question,” he added.The banned Muslim Brotherhood,by far this country 's most politically active religious group,is reported to harbour an ambition to establish its own political party.Every now and then,the movement, which owns one fifth of the seats of the Egyptian legislature,suffers massive arrest and detention of its members.
