Potential Egyptian presidential candidate Ayman Nour severely criticized the country’s interim administration and other potential presidential candidates in an interview Sunday with Al-Masry Al-Youm.
An Egyptian court five years ago convicted Nour of forging proxies for the establishment of the Ghad party, which, according to law, bans him from standing for presidential elections. However, Nour submitted a request in March demanding a reinvestigation of the case.
Al-Masry Al-Youm: Do you approve what the revolution has yielded so far?
Nour: I don’t approve of the political map drawn by the [ruling] Supreme Council of Armed Forces. There’s a rush to hold parliamentary and presidential elections. Moreover, political parties weren’t consulted when the map was drawn.
Al-Masry: Do you think there will be difference between the 2005 presidential elections and the upcoming one?
Nour: I expect it this time to be more fair. The 2005 elections were flawed, which is what we — the party — were able to prove for the public opinion. However, I believe some candidates are supported by followers of the ousted regime who work for their own benefit.
Al-Masry: How can you evaluate the other potential candidates, like Amr Moussa, Mohamed ElBaradei and Hesham el-Bastawisi? How do you see competition with them?
Nour: I can’t evaluate any of them. But I believe I’m the youngest and have the widest experience with the elections process. Not one of them had ever taken part in any elections. I stood in the last presidential election and many parliamentary elections. And I think this adds political weight to me.
Al-Masry: Do you think the forged proxies case could hinder you from presidential candidacy?
Nour: My popularity wasn’t affected. This is the tax of struggling. Everybody knows that the former regime intended to tarnish my image through fabricating the case and getting me into prison on a political and not a judicial case. I demanded reviewing the case and I’m sure I will win and be a presidential candidate. I have many documents that prove the former regime was against me.
Al-Masry: As a law expert, do you see trials and investigations with former regime figures are serious?
Nour: I don’t think they are not serious. The former regime is involved in two cases, which are corruption and the killing of protesters. But the main problem is with the second case, as all heads of security authorities meant to gather information on the issue are involved in the case, which makes collecting evidence difficult.
