Mubarak’s Governmet Vice President is Running for President

Mubarak’s Governmet Vice President is running for President.

Former head of intelligence for the Mubarak Regime, General Omar Suleiman announced on Friday afternoon his candidacy for presidential elections to be held on May 23rd and 24th.

The news comes a week after the Muslim Brotherhood presents their own candidate, Jairat al Shater.

The retired general, 75, promised to “make every effort (…) to achieve the expected changes and complete the goals of the Revolution, and to keep up the hopes of the Egyptian people.”

“(…) The request you made today is an order, and I am a soldier who never disobeyed an order (…) I can only answer the call and get ready for racing in spite of obstacles and difficulties,” said Suleiman.

Applications from al Shater and Suleiman point to an intense power struggle between the Muslim Brotherhood and the army, two powerful institutions in Egypt, which historically have had a tortured relationship.

On January 29 of 2011, Suleiman was appointed as Vice-president for Mubarak to stop the rebellion, so it is rather figure represents an attempt to restore the old order.

According to recent polls, after the nomination Shater and Suleiman, about 25% of Egyptians are betting on a president with a military profile, while 58% would prefer an Islamist trend.

(BG)