Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali wrote that Egypt's political future "has become a hot topic in Washington as parliamentary and presidential elections approach. Some policy wonks claim that Egypt is stagnant and that our government is resisting change."
Ghali warned in an article published in the Washington Post on Friday of the dangers of Egypt falling into the hands of extremists, emphasizing that they are the primary alternative to the NDP which he considers the only party capable of achieving development in Egypt. He added, "But those of us who work in the Egyptian government believe that what matters most to ordinary Egyptians is their standard of living; in this respect, the country is undergoing an astonishing transformation."
Ghali emphasized the creation of four million new jobs in the five years since the beginning of economic reform and that Egypt has been ranked as the tenth fastest-developing country in the world by the UN Human Development Report. He also pointed out that the economy has grown at an average rate of 7.2 percent per annum, despiteexpectations of a decrease to 6 percent because of the global economic crisis.
The minister said that economic growth has helped make Egyptian civil society the most dynamic in the Middle East, referring to satellite broadcasting and the number of newspapers published – currently around 500–and more than 160,000 blogs. Women occupy 23 percent of public positions and make up 12 percent of parliamentarians. He continued, "Egypt is a different country from the one it was five years ago”.
Ghali expressed his regret that, "The narrative in Washington's policy community has yet to reflect that. Western observers ritually point out the imperfections in our political system." He also said that, "The fact that Egyptians are having open discussions about the upcoming elections, government performance, poverty and even the president is proof of a healthy political space ".
He emphasized that, "The Egyptian constitution defines a precise framework for presidential elections, which are open to any political party that has at least one seat in Parliament," stressing that, "At no time in its modern history has Egypt faced a crisis of transition".
He said, "We recognize that Egypt still has a long way to go. Far too many people live in poverty, and too few receive a proper education. But there can be little doubt that Egypt is at a turning point toward much broader prosperity."
Ghali stressed that, "The fundamental challenge is to further our economic reforms as Egypt opens up politically. This is why this month's parliamentary elections and next year's presidential election are critical”.
The minister added, "The main alternative to our vision is offered by those who would steer the country away from economic liberalism, religious tolerance and social progress and toward greater fundamentalism, eventually creating a religious state in a country that has always embraced diversity. Imagine for a moment an Egypt in the hands of fundamentalist mullahs, fomenting instability and allied with rogue regimes."
He continued, "As a member of Egypt's Christian community–the largest in the Middle East–I know all too well the dangers of religious intolerance. As finance minister, I recognize the imperative of change in the face of entrenched interests. And as an elected member of parliament I have come to realize that change without home-grown political support is unsustainable."
Ghali went on, saying, "Our vision for Egypt is of a modern civil state based on equality, religious tolerance and a free-market economy. Prosperity and better education can drive peaceful political change, which we hope will in turn revive a multiparty system that has unfortunately withered somewhat in recent years. The choice should not just be between the National Democratic Party and the fundamentalists. There must be room for vibrant secular alternatives. "
American aid to Egypt over the past 30 years has played a vital role in building the free market economy, he said and further, the transformation of the Egyptian economy would generate prosperity and stability in the region, and would be a bulwark against extremism. He stressed that achieving economic growth and political stability in Egypt could, "Improve America's security and help to create the foundations of a prosperous and stable Middle East".
