 Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak could reveal whether or not he will seek a fifth mandate in this year's elections during a landmark seven-hour interview which public television will start airing on Sunday. According to the official Al-Ahram daily's Friday issue, the 76-year-old president, who has ruled Egypt for 24 years, will answer a question on his candidacy in the presidential polls, slated for September.
| My guess is that he's gonna. He expects to die in office, probably from a stroke brought on by the buildup of Grecian Formula over the years... |
The president will also "announce a big surprise," said the newspaper without further elaborating.
| I love those subtle advertising gimmicks. They're almost subliminal, aren't they? |
Political observers have speculated recently that Mubarak could appoint a vice president in response to international demands.
| I dunno. Cheney's got an important vote coming up... |
He will "reaffirm the role of the armed forces as the guarantors of legitimacy and defenders of the homeland," said Al-Ahram, adding that the president was also expected to express "his views on political and economic reform" in Egypt. The unprecedented marathon interview is to be aired over three days, but public television was maintaining the utmost secrecy over its contents.
| The army seems to do a better job of guaranteeing legitimacy than it does of defending the homeland, but I guess one out of two ain't bad... |
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