14/3/2012

As a supporter of the presidential candidate Mansour Hassan, I’ve decided to use part of my weekly article in Al Akhbar (and some blog posts) to propose ideas to him from now until Election Day. So, my friend, here are my two cents for whatever they’re worth.

My first suggestion is that if you win the election, appoint Minister Mounir Fakhri Abdel Nour as your vice president, but wait until after your victory to name him.

Why Mounir Fakhri Abdel Nour?

1. His roots in the Wafd party Abdel Nour comes from a long line of prominent Wafdists, the first party to put its support behind you. Abdel Nour’s uncle served as secretary-general of the Wafd party, and his grandfather was a close comrade of Saad Zaghloul, national leader and prime minister in the first Wafdist government at the beginning of the last century.

2. His Coptic religion Abdel Nour is as popular with Muslims as he is with Christians, and the appointment of a Coptic vice-president would send a strong signal that Egypt is moving towards a new era of co-existence, harmony, and caring between followers of the two religions.

3. His willingness to work hard for the economy Abdel Nour agreed to take over the Ministry of Tourism at a very critical time, reflecting his willingness to confront tough challenges. In this respect, he exerted great effort, even going to non-traditional markets, while attempting to promote Egypt in the international tourism market. Unfortunately his efforts did not bear fruit due to the absence of key requirements for anyone’s travel plans; security and stability. But, I am sure that when these are restored, Abdel Nour’s initiatives will be helpful in bringing back tourism as a major source of Egyptian national income.

translated from Al-Akhbar