No political party is exclusively for good people. With the membership of the majority party nearing 3 million, hundreds would be using it to achieve their own goals away from public interests. However, with the healthy atmosphere now prevailing, the National Democratic Party is unlikely to allow these people a chance to do ill to society, particularly with the call reiterated by Safwat al-Sherif, the NDP General Secretary for pumping new blood into the party's veins.

The indications are that internal reforms are currently being carried out within the National Democratic Party. Capable elements are being pushed to the forefront in order to build bridges of confidence with the public. I would not be exaggerating to note that calling for elections from base-to-top is indeed an important turning point in the history of the NDP.

Apart from the draft bills currently under preparation, the most important of which is that of the anti-terror law, and the laws on economic courts, health insurance, and local administration, the party is called upon to discuss important issues such as economic reforms and ways of restoring discipline to the local scene. I don't mean by this restoring law and order on the streets but also reinstating the ethics long absent in Egyptian society.

Akhbar al-Yom
Momtaz al-Qutt
Saturday, August 18, 2007