National Association for Change
Encyclopedia
National Association for Change is a loose grouping of the various Egypt
ian of all political affiliations and religion, men and women, including representatives of civil society and young people aims to change Egypt. There was general agreement on the need to unite all the voices calling for change within a National Assembly. Mohamed ElBaradei is in-charge of the National Association for Change. The movement aims for general reforms in the political scene and achieving some of those procedures and guarantees necessitates the amendment of articles 76, 77, and 88 of the constitution as soon as possible. Worth mentioning is that the banned political group the Muslim Brotherhood
were represented by one of their key figures who attended the meeting however their stand in accepting a non-member of their group as a candidate is yet unclear. It is also unknown whether Amr Moussa
the head of the Arab League
who met with Elbaradei a day earlier will be part of the new movement. The goal of the group is to bring about political reform based on democracy and social justice.
and social justice
. The first step on this road is to ensure basic guarantees of free and fair elections involving all the Egyptians so that there is an equal opportunity for all the Egyptians to run and win any elections, whether legislative elections or the presidential election
. The National Association for Change platform is:
individually to receive ElBaradei at the Cairo airport late February 2010.
Began some individuals (including 3 from April 6 Youth Movement
) activity in an orderly fashion in early March, to start distributing their publication 4 thousand to support the IAEA within the Mansoura University
.
With the increasing number of members of the campaign employed a human development coach to receive lectures on how to work together.
According to George Ishak, The online group had planned to hold its first meeting in public to launch the Kuwait
i branch of the Egyptian National Association for Change.
Kuwaiti authorities deported 17 Egyptian nationals supporting potential Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei in Kuwait City. They were among 33 Egyptians in Kuwait City who belonged to a pro-ElBaradei group on the social networking site Facebook and who were detained by Kuwaiti authorities.
Kuwaiti officials said Egypt's internal politics should be kept in Egypt and not exercised abroad.
The Egyptian political forces to staged a protest in front of the Embassy of Kuwait in Cairo.
Gamila Ismail, an Egyptian journalist, said the demonstration comes to protest the practices of the Kuwaiti security forces and their arrest of the Egyptians because of their ad campaign to launch the Kuwait
i branch of the Egyptian National Association for Change.
While ElBaradei described the Egyptians deportation from Kuwait "gross injustice".
A group of Egyptians who live in England supporting the peaceful change of the Constitution in Egypt towards more democratization. The group stands behind Dr Mohamed ElBaradei who champions this cause.
A group of Egyptians who live in Greece supporting the peaceful change of the Constitution in Egypt towards more democratization. The group stands behind Dr Mohamed ElBaradei who champions this cause.
Mr ElBaradei decided to visit the USA during April 2010. Mr ElBaradei's visit to the United States will include meetings with Egyptians abroad to "discuss his agenda for change and answer their questions on how to move forward", said an official from Mr ElBaradei's National Association for Change.
The trip could represent an opportunity for Mr ElBaradei to focus on one of the stated goals of his National Association for Change: the enfranchisement of Egyptians abroad, many of whom have felt for years that their views on governance are neglected by the regime.
In the wake of the strong support for the National Association for Change in the United States, Egyptians living in the US formed the Egyptian Association For Change (EAC).
The EAC priorities include a free and fair elections involving all Egyptians including the Egyptian Diaspora, and guarantees of freedom of expression and peaceful political participation. To meet these objectives, the EAC mobilizes communities and individuals to advocate for constitutional reforms and the implementation of specific measures to ensure fair and transparent elections in Egypt.
While the EAC support the NAC's call for change and adopted the 7 points it has presented for reform, there is no formal relationship between the two organizations. However members of the EAC are in constant communication with the members of NAC to coordinate and synchronize positions and efforts.
On May 1, 2010, Egyptians in America voted in a mock election organized by the EAC. For the first time ever, they participated in a free and fair Egyptian electoral process that included Hamdeen Sabahi, Mohamed ElBaradei, Ayman Nour, Amr Moussa and Gamal Mubarak as candidates.
The EAC's main headquarters is in Washington, D.C., with chapters in NY/NJ, Massachusetts, North Carolina, California and Michigan.
Egyptian expatriates may have a natural affinity for Mr ElBaradei, whose global cachet resonates with expatriates who hope to see a comprehensive rethinking of Egypt's political system.
According to figures from the 2007 US census bureau
, there are nearly 200,000 people of Egyptian ancestry living in the United States.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian of all political affiliations and religion, men and women, including representatives of civil society and young people aims to change Egypt. There was general agreement on the need to unite all the voices calling for change within a National Assembly. Mohamed ElBaradei is in-charge of the National Association for Change. The movement aims for general reforms in the political scene and achieving some of those procedures and guarantees necessitates the amendment of articles 76, 77, and 88 of the constitution as soon as possible. Worth mentioning is that the banned political group the Muslim Brotherhood
Muslim Brotherhood
The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
were represented by one of their key figures who attended the meeting however their stand in accepting a non-member of their group as a candidate is yet unclear. It is also unknown whether Amr Moussa
Amr Moussa
Amr Mohammed Moussa is an Egyptian politician and diplomat who was the Secretary-General of the Arab League, a 22-member forum representing Arab states, from 1 June 2001 until 1 June 2011. He is a candidate in the 2011 Egyptian presidential election....
the head of the Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
who met with Elbaradei a day earlier will be part of the new movement. The goal of the group is to bring about political reform based on democracy and social justice.
Platform
The main objectives of the association is to work towards a political system based on genuine democracyDemocracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
. The first step on this road is to ensure basic guarantees of free and fair elections involving all the Egyptians so that there is an equal opportunity for all the Egyptians to run and win any elections, whether legislative elections or the presidential election
Elections in Egypt
Egypt elects on national level a head of state – a president – and a bicameral legislature.The President of the Republic is elected for a six-year term by popular vote. This election mechanism has been in place since a May 2005 amendment to the Egyptian Constitution...
. The National Association for Change platform is:
- Ending the state of emergencyState of emergencyA state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...
. - Complete judicial oversight of the whole election process.
- Allowing local and international civil society groups to monitor elections.
- Equal access to media for all candidates, particularly during presidential elections.
- Giving Egyptians living abroad the right to vote at Egyptian embassies and consulates.
- The right to run for president without arbitrary restrictions in accordance with Egypt's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as limiting the president's service to two termsTerm limitA term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
. - Voting by the National ID.
Goals
- Amending article 76 of the Constitution of EgyptConstitution of EgyptThe Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt was the fundamental law of Egypt. It was adopted on September 11, 1971 through a public referendum. It was later amended in 1980, 2005 and 2007. It was proclaimed to update the democratic representative system in assertion of the rule of law,...
states: "The People's Assembly shall nominate the President of the Republic . The nomination shall be referred to the people for a plebiscite. The nomination for the President of the Republic shall be made in the People’ Assembly upon the proposal of at least one third of its members. The candidate who obtains two thirds of the votes of the members of the People's Assembly shall be referred to the people for a plebiscite . If he does not obtain the said majority the nomination process shall be repeated two days after the first vote. The candidate obtaining an absolute majority of the votes of the Assembly members shall be referred to the citizens for a plebiscite. The candidate shall be considered President of the Republic when he obtains an absolute majority of votes cast in the plebiscite. If the candidate does not obtain this majority, the Assembly shall propose the nomination of another candidate and the same procedure shall follow concerning his candidature and election.". - Amending article 77 of the Constitution of EgyptConstitution of EgyptThe Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt was the fundamental law of Egypt. It was adopted on September 11, 1971 through a public referendum. It was later amended in 1980, 2005 and 2007. It was proclaimed to update the democratic representative system in assertion of the rule of law,...
that states: "The term of the presidency shall be six Gregorian yearsGregorian calendarThe Gregorian calendar, also known as the Western calendar, or Christian calendar, is the internationally accepted civil calendar. It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words Inter...
starting from the date of the announcement of result of the plebiscite. The President of the Republic may be re-elected for other successive terms.". - Amending article 88 of the Constitution of EgyptConstitution of EgyptThe Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt was the fundamental law of Egypt. It was adopted on September 11, 1971 through a public referendum. It was later amended in 1980, 2005 and 2007. It was proclaimed to update the democratic representative system in assertion of the rule of law,...
that states: "The Law shall determine the conditions which members of the Assembly must fulfil as well as the rules of election and referendum, while the ballot shall be conducted under the supervision of the members of a judiciary organ.".
In Dakahlia
Activity started People's Campaign to support ElBaradei in Dakahlia in the first leg of some political activists and members of the April 6 Youth MovementApril 6 Youth Movement
The April 6 Youth Movement is an Egyptian Facebook group started in Spring 2008 to support the workers in El-Mahalla El-Kubra, an industrial town, who were planning to strike on April 6....
individually to receive ElBaradei at the Cairo airport late February 2010.
Began some individuals (including 3 from April 6 Youth Movement
April 6 Youth Movement
The April 6 Youth Movement is an Egyptian Facebook group started in Spring 2008 to support the workers in El-Mahalla El-Kubra, an industrial town, who were planning to strike on April 6....
) activity in an orderly fashion in early March, to start distributing their publication 4 thousand to support the IAEA within the Mansoura University
Mansoura University
Mansoura University was founded in 1972 in Mansoura city, Egypt. Now, it also has in Damietta. It is one of the biggest Egyptian universities and has contributed much to the cultural and scientific life in Mansoura and Egypt.-Hint about:...
.
With the increasing number of members of the campaign employed a human development coach to receive lectures on how to work together.
In Kuwait
According to George Ishak, The online group had planned to hold its first meeting in public to launch the Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i branch of the Egyptian National Association for Change.
Kuwaiti authorities deported 17 Egyptian nationals supporting potential Egyptian presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei in Kuwait City. They were among 33 Egyptians in Kuwait City who belonged to a pro-ElBaradei group on the social networking site Facebook and who were detained by Kuwaiti authorities.
Kuwaiti officials said Egypt's internal politics should be kept in Egypt and not exercised abroad.
The Egyptian political forces to staged a protest in front of the Embassy of Kuwait in Cairo.
Gamila Ismail, an Egyptian journalist, said the demonstration comes to protest the practices of the Kuwaiti security forces and their arrest of the Egyptians because of their ad campaign to launch the Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
i branch of the Egyptian National Association for Change.
While ElBaradei described the Egyptians deportation from Kuwait "gross injustice".
In England
A group of Egyptians who live in England supporting the peaceful change of the Constitution in Egypt towards more democratization. The group stands behind Dr Mohamed ElBaradei who champions this cause.
In Greece
A group of Egyptians who live in Greece supporting the peaceful change of the Constitution in Egypt towards more democratization. The group stands behind Dr Mohamed ElBaradei who champions this cause.
In The United States
Mr ElBaradei decided to visit the USA during April 2010. Mr ElBaradei's visit to the United States will include meetings with Egyptians abroad to "discuss his agenda for change and answer their questions on how to move forward", said an official from Mr ElBaradei's National Association for Change.
The trip could represent an opportunity for Mr ElBaradei to focus on one of the stated goals of his National Association for Change: the enfranchisement of Egyptians abroad, many of whom have felt for years that their views on governance are neglected by the regime.
In the wake of the strong support for the National Association for Change in the United States, Egyptians living in the US formed the Egyptian Association For Change (EAC).
The EAC priorities include a free and fair elections involving all Egyptians including the Egyptian Diaspora, and guarantees of freedom of expression and peaceful political participation. To meet these objectives, the EAC mobilizes communities and individuals to advocate for constitutional reforms and the implementation of specific measures to ensure fair and transparent elections in Egypt.
While the EAC support the NAC's call for change and adopted the 7 points it has presented for reform, there is no formal relationship between the two organizations. However members of the EAC are in constant communication with the members of NAC to coordinate and synchronize positions and efforts.
On May 1, 2010, Egyptians in America voted in a mock election organized by the EAC. For the first time ever, they participated in a free and fair Egyptian electoral process that included Hamdeen Sabahi, Mohamed ElBaradei, Ayman Nour, Amr Moussa and Gamal Mubarak as candidates.
The EAC's main headquarters is in Washington, D.C., with chapters in NY/NJ, Massachusetts, North Carolina, California and Michigan.
Egyptian expatriates may have a natural affinity for Mr ElBaradei, whose global cachet resonates with expatriates who hope to see a comprehensive rethinking of Egypt's political system.
According to figures from the 2007 US census bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, there are nearly 200,000 people of Egyptian ancestry living in the United States.
Figures
- Mohamed ElBaradei (The President of the Association)
- Hamdy KandeelHamdy KandeelHamdy Kandeel is an Egyptian T.V and Radio personality. He graduated from the faculty of Arts and literature in Cairo University in 1960 , before working in the press in Akhbar El Yom and Dar El Tahrir publishing houses...
(The official spokesman) - Hassan Nafaa (The General Coordinator of the Association and a professor of political science at Cairo University)
- Abdurrahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi (Egyptian poet and a political activist)
- Shadi TahaShadi TahaShadi Taha was born in Cairo Egypt on the third of September 1978. Taha traveled to the United States at the age of 16 to study Engineering. Became very active in politics in Washington DC where he received his education...
(Member of the High Council Al-Ghad Party) - Hamdeen SabahiHamdeen SabahiHamdeen Sabahi the leader of the Dignity Party and one of the leades of the Egyptian opposition before the 2011 Egyptian revolution. He said he will run for president in the Egyptian presidential election, 2011....
(One the founders of Dignity PartyDignity Party (Egypt)The Dignity Party is a left-wing Nasserist political party founded in Egypt in 1996....
and the editor of the party newspaper) - Ayman NourAyman NourAyman Abd El Aziz Nour is an Egyptian politician, a former member of the Egyptian Parliament and chairman of the El Ghad party.He was imprisoned in January 2005 by the government of President Hosni Mubarak. Nour was released on health grounds on February 18, 2009...
(A liberalLiberalismLiberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian and a former candidate for the presidential elections in EgyptEgyptian presidential election, 2005The Egyptian presidential election of 2005, held on September 7, 2005, was the first allegedly contested presidential election in Egypt's history. Hosni Mubarak, the former President of Egypt, won a fifth consecutive six-year term in office, with official results showing he won 88.6% of the vote...
and the President of Hizb El-GhadTomorrow PartyThe el-Ghad Party is an active political party in Egypt that was granted license in October 2004. El-Ghad is a centrist liberal secular political party pressing for widening the scope of political participation and for a peaceful rotation of power....
) - Gamila Ismail (Egyptian journalist)
- George Ishak (A Leader in Kefaya Movement and its coordinator and former spokesman for the movement)
- Yehia El Gamal (A former Egyptian Minister and constitutional expert)
- Osama Al Ghazali Harb (The President of Democratic Front Party)
- Mohamed Saad El-Katatni (President of the parliamentary bloc of the Muslim BrotherhoodMuslim BrotherhoodThe Society of the Muslim Brothers is the world's oldest and one of the largest Islamist parties, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. It was founded in 1928 in Egypt by the Islamic scholar and schoolteacher Hassan al-Banna and by the late 1940s had an...
) - Khaled YoussefKhaled YoussefKhaled Youssef , is an Egyptian director and film writer. His films are noted for their use of improvisation and a realistic cinéma vérité style. Khaled Youssef, who has established a solid reputation as a successful filmmaker who does not shy away from controversial issues such as rape, political...
- Khaled Abol NagaKhaled Abol NagaKhaled Abol Naga is an Egyptian actor, TV host, producer and director. He is a Human and Child rights activist and has been a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador since his appointment in 2007...
(Egyptian actor) - Ali Badrakhan (Egyptian director)
- Basma Ahmed (Egyptian actress)
- Najla Fathi (Egyptian actress)
- Yousry NasrallahYousry NasrallahYousry Nasrallah is an Egyptian film director.Nasrallah was born to a Coptic Christian family in Cairo. He graduated in economics and political science at Cairo University. Following, he worked as a film critic and directing assistant in Beirut from 1978 to 1982...
(Egyptian director) - Alaa Al AswanyAlaa Al AswanyAlaa al-Aswany is an Egyptian writer, and a founding member of the political movement Kefaya.-Biography:Alaa Al Aswany studied to be a dentist, first in Egypt, and then later Chicago....
(Egyptian writer) - Naguib SawirisNaguib SawirisNaguib Onsi Sawiris is an Egyptian businessman and politician. He was executive chairman of the telecommunications companies Wind Telecom and Orascom Telecom Holding before turning to politics in May 2011...
(Egyptian businessman) - Said El KemnySaid El KemnySayyid Al-Qemany is an Egyptian writer and thinker. Born on March 13, 1947 in the province of Beni Suef, he is a controversial writer. His works emphasize the importance of critical thinking, and he is an opponent of Islamic fundamentalism, supporting separation of religion and state, and tolerance...
(Academic Writer)
See also
- April 6 Youth MovementApril 6 Youth MovementThe April 6 Youth Movement is an Egyptian Facebook group started in Spring 2008 to support the workers in El-Mahalla El-Kubra, an industrial town, who were planning to strike on April 6....
- Kefaya
- Egyptian presidential election, 2011Egyptian presidential election, 2011A presidential election is expected to be held in Egypt in March or April 2012. It will be the second even remotely competitive presidential election in Egypt's history, following the 2005 election and presidential confirmation referendums in 1999, 1993, and earlier...
- Democracy in the Middle EastDemocracy in the Middle EastAccording to the "Democracy Index" , the country in the Middle East with the highest Democracy Index score is Israel, with a score of 7.48, corresponding to the status of "flawed democracy"; the only one in the region.The next highest scores of countries of in the region are held by Lebanon and...