Some politicians and experts view recent criticism of democracy in Egypt and the Egyptian Constitution by American rights organizations as a form of interference in Egypt's internal affairs, while others believe it to be legitimate, despite limited hope for change while the ruling National Democratic Party stands against amending the constitution prior to the 2011 presidential election. Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, secretary general of the Wafd Party, said a distinction had to be made between the American regime on the one hand, and non-governmental organizations on the other. He explained that the current attack is being launched by rights NGOs, not the US administration. "I haven't heard that the American regime attacked Egypt or demanded any democratic reforms because it has other priorities," Abdel Nour said, pointing out that the American administration had more pressing matters to focus on such as the international financial crisis, and reforms to the banking and medical insurance industries. Abdel Nour went on to say that amending the constitution is a purely Egyptian matter, and he hopes that the Egyptian regime will heed the calls for reform. Essam el-Erian, a Muslim Brotherhood leader, said that the US Congress is placing pressure on Egypt and attaching an increasing number of conditions to US aid to Egypt. According to el-Erian the Egyptian regime has yielded to that pressure over the years. He cited the steel wall on the Gaza border as one example. El-Erian said that while the Egyptian regime is particularly responsive when it comes to protecting Egyptian national security, it tends to be reluctant to give in to pressure when it comes to the implementation of democracy and human rights. Ibrahim Darwish, a constitutional law expert, said that the amendment of Article 76 of the Constitution allows the regime to pick the new president. He added that Gamal Mubarak's statements closed nominations for the presidency because, according to those statements, constitutional amendments will not be introduced until after the presidential election. Ayman Nour, founder of the Ghad Party, downplayed the significance of the criticism directed at the regime saying inter-governmental relations were governed primarily by mutual interests. Nour pointed out that the US administration has not criticized the Egyptian regime, which reflects satisfaction with its performance and implementation of US plans in the region. Nour added that it shouldn't be expected that foreign intervention will introduce change. "We are not calling for foreign intervention or inviting international pressure. We are only asking the US not to support tyrannical regimes," Nour said. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
