By: Dara Getachew and Keia Banks Government CC/ Block—2 May 19, 2010

1. EGYPT By: Dara Getachew and Keia Banks Government CC/ Block—2 May 19, 2010

2. Political History and Major events • In 1882 British troops occupied Egypt. • British resident agents became administrators under nominal Turkish sovereignty. • In 1914 Egypt became a protectorate of Britain. • Egyptian nationalist Zaghlul Pasha Wafd Party forced Britain to relinquish its claims on the country.

3. More... • On Feb. 28, 1922, Egypt became an independent sovereign state with Fu'ad I as its king. • 1936, by an Anglo-Egyptian treaty of alliance, all British troops and officials were to be withdrawn, except from the Suez Canal Zone. • When World War II started, Egypt remained neutral. • Tensions grew between the Wafd Party and the monarchy following independence.

4. New Government and Leadership • In 1952, the army seized power. • Three days later the monarchy was abolished. • On June 18, 1953, Republic was proclaimed with Naguib becoming president and prime minister. • 1954 and 1956 Gamal Abdel Nasser was prime minister . • 1956 to 1961, Egypt and Syria united to form a single country called the United Arab Republic (UAR). • Syria ended this relationship in 1961. Egypt continued to call itself the UAR until 1971.

5. WAR • In 1967, border tensions between Egypt and Israel led to the Six-Day War. Nasser declared cease-fire void along the canal in April 1969 and began a war of attrition. • On Sept. 28, 1970, Nasser died of a heart attack. Anwar el-Sadat, an associate of Nasser and a former newspaper editor, became the next president. • The fourth Arab-Israeli War broke out on Oct. 6, 1973, • A UN-sponsored truce was accepted on Oct. 22. In Jan. 1974, both sides agreed to a settlement negotiated by the U.S. that gave Egypt a narrow strip along the entire Sinai bank of the Suez Canal. • In June, President Nixon made the first visit by a U.S. president to Egypt and full diplomatic relations were established. The Suez Canal was reopened on June 5, 1975.

6. Currently... • The government has concentrated much of its time and attention in recent years on combating Islamic extremists, who have in particular targeted Copts (Egyptian Christians). • In 1997, a terrorist attack on foreign tourists killed 70. During the 1990s, about 26,000 Islamic militants were imprisoned and dozens were executed. • Egypt and Sudan resumed diplomatic relations in March 2000, which had broken off in 1995 after Egypt accused Sudan of attempting to assassinate Hosni Mubarak. • In July 2005, President Mubarak assumed his fifth term. Earlier in the year Mubarak had amended the constitution to allow for multiparty elections, the first in Egyptian history, and on Sept. 6, Mubarak was reelected with 88.6% of the vote. Turnout was 23%. • In March 2007, voters overwhelmingly endorsed changes to the Constitution that strengthened the presidency. Voter turnout was low, at about 27%, and opposition groups claimed the vote was rigged. • U.S. President Obama spoke of forming an alliance with Muslims during a visit to Cairo, Egypt in June 2009. He called for "a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world," asking for new alliances based on mutual respect and common interests.

7. Government • Country Name: Arabic Republic of Egypt • Government Type: Republic • Constitution: September 11, 1971 • Head of State: President Muhammad Hosni Said Mubarak • http://schema-root.org/region/akdbfrica/north_africa/egypt/government/officials/hosni_mubarak/ • Head of Government: Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif • Legislative Branch: bicameral; People’s Assembly (Majlis al-Sha’b) and the Advisory Council (Majlis al-Shura)

8. Economy • Capital of Egypt: Cairo • Population: 77 million • Egypt is the center of trade for Africa; bordered by the Gaza Strip, Israel, Sudan and Libya. • The Nile River is the center of Egypt’s economy. • In the years between 2004 – 2008, economic reforms to attract foreign direct investments were focused on. Reforms were put on the back burner because of recession. • Egypt’s economy depends largely on the exportation of petrochemicals to European nations as well as African nations and the Middle East countries.

9. Executive Leadership • Authority is vested in an elected president who can appoint one or more vice presidents, a prime minister, and a cabinet. The president's term runs for 6 years and he can keep running • Hosny Mubarak is the current President of Egypt. He is 81! • He was born in the governorate of Al-Menoufiyah. Mubarak was made the President of Arab Republic in the year 1981. In the same year, he was also made the Chairman of the National Democratic Party. • After Hosny Mubarak started his career in politics, he was re-elected by the people of Egypt in 1987, 1993 and in 1999.

10. Legislative Body • Egyptian People’s Assembly • The Constitution says that the law will determine the number in the People’s Assembly as long as it is no less than 350 members. • Elections had to be held under the supervision of members of the Legislature and ten members appointed by the President of the Republic. • At least half of the members had to be farmers and workers. • The members are elected by absolute majority of the correct votes cast. • currently454 member • 444 popularly elected • 10 appointed by the president. • Legislation passed in 2009 calls for the addition of 64 new seats set aside for women. Voting Procedure for the People’s Assembly • http://www.parliament.gov.eg/English/VotingSystem/Procedure/

11. Social Crisis • Unemployment and Poverty • non oil export country along with Morocco and Jordan • no economic and financial crisis but…. • an up rise in radicalism in the region • decrease in GDP last year • public debt―76 percent of GDP in Egypt • more than 20% of the country is lives below the international poverty line (less than $2.00 a day)

12. More Social Crisis • Uproar • massive rise in social tensions and protest activities • Protest activities • Strikes, labor sit-ins, and demonstrations increased dramatically. • Egypt alone witnessed over 600 protests in the first three months of 2008,

13. Most Recent Crisis • “The Hash Crisis” • Very common to smoke hash • -- disappearance of hashish from the local market • number of hash smokers in Egypt at seven million, • possible theories: raising prices, government controls the hash supply will reappear with oncoming elections in time for President Mubarak’s party to steal another election??? • Most likely: government crackdown. • major bust in Alexandria a few weeks ago • government officials have said in statements that the police are doubling down on their efforts to limit the supply of dope

14. Political Crisis • President wants son in office next year (supposedly)….but SURPRISE!!! • December 2009 Dr. Mohamed ElBaradei dropped a bombshell • He would consider a run for Egypt’s presidency — provided that the government ensured a fair campaign and revised the restrictive amendments to the Egyptian Constitution that outline who can contend for the presidency.

15. Works Cited http://www.parliament.gov.eg/English/default.htm http://www.mapsofworld.com/egypt/government/president.html http://www.dosenation.com/listing.php?id=7356 http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=128814 http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107484.html http://www.appliedlanguage.com/country_guides/egypt_country_government.shtml