The Islamist candidate for president of Egypt, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fatouh, criticized the candidacy of Omar Suleiman, the former intelligence chief of deposed President Hosni Mubarak. “Men like Omar Suleiman and Ahmed Shafiq are crazy to run for political office after being such important members of the Mubarak regime,” said Aboul Fatouh at a political rally Sunday night in the poor neighborhood of Zahraa in Cairo. Shafiq is a former minister under Mubarak and was also a prime minister. Suleiman gave the 30,000 signatures of voters that he collected to the Election Commission here Sunday afternoon just half an hour before the deadline. Twenty-three candidates delivered their papers in time for the committee, which will publish a final list of candidates on April 26. The first round of the election occurs on the May 16 and 17. “Only you, the people, can protect the revolution,” said Aboul Fatouh to around 200 people gathered at the rally. “Egypt is a rich nation. But Mubarak left Egypt's poorer, with 60 percent of Egyptians living in poverty. “ Aboul Fatouh is a former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. He is a doctor by profession, and was expelled from the Brotherhood when he said he wanted to run for president. The Islamist group originally said it would not launch a candidate for the presidency, but surprised everyone here in Egypt last week when they announced that Khairat El-Shater, a group leader and a very rich businessman, would be the official candidate of the group. “Anyone who does not oppose the Mubarak regime, is like the devil,” said Aboul Fatouh. “The increase in prices of petrol, bread and food in general was created by the SCAF (Supreme Committee of the Armed Forces, which currently rules the country) to let the people not think of the revolution anymore, and instead feel that they need a general to run the country.” The revolution of Jan. 25, 2011 overthrew the regime of Mubarak, who was in power since 1981, and left the country in the hands of the SCAF. Now many political analysts fear that the military will not leave power completely after the presidential elections. “The gains of the revolution are being undone,” said Hani Shukrallah, editor of Al Ahram Online website in an interview with Saudi Gazette. “There is still the possibility to return to a repressive regime, which would affect even our freedom of speech in the press.” And that is precisely what worries democratic candidates as Aboul Fatouh, which asked voters to help him in the fight against the political corruption of the Mubarak regime. “The parliament today discussed a new law that will ban corrupt politicians from applying for any position in government,” said Aboul Fatouh. “We have to continue the revolution to get rid of all remnants of the corrupt Mubarak regime.” Candidates of the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafist parties won the most seats in parliamentary elections held from November 2011 to January 2012. In the economic realm, Aboul Fatouh said that he is in favor of a minimum salary of E £1,200 for civil servants, and a maximum salary of E£25,000. He said that if elected president, would spend up to 25 per cent of GDP on education. Backed by a diverse group of feminists, young leftists and Islamists, because of his moderate views, Aboul Fatouh said that no one in Egypt, either the Christians nor women, should fear the implementation of Islamic law or Shariah. “The Shariah is something that is part of all the Egyptians. Islamic law is much more than just the veil for women or cutting hands of thieves. The Shariah protects human rights.” __
