The head of the IAEA announced yesterday in Egypt that he could be a presidential candidate in the next elections. For the people of Egypt this is an announcement of hope. Upon arrival in his home country about a week ago, Mr. ElBaradei announced the creation of a commission with a primary goal of “advocacy for change in the political system of Egypt.”
While Mr. ElBaradei is considered to be an elite of the elites, his international weight if thrown towards better governance and democracy in the country, the effect on the momentum and agendas of the opposition parties in Egypt will be enormous, especially in its opposition to succession. Opposition parties with their different backgrounds and ideologies are unanimous in their opposition to succession. The idea of which first surfaced after the son of the current President Hosni Mubarak, Jamal Mubarak was promoted to a leadership post in the National Democratic Party, the ruling party in Egypt since 1979.
Mr. ElBaradei is under no illusion that his chances of winning the presidency of Egypt are slim. But his stated goal to push the country towards a democratic process will be greatly appreciated and encouraged by his fellow countrymen.
