By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    CBE to issue $540m worth of dollar-denominated T-bills on Monday 
    CBE to issue $540m worth of dollar-denominated T-bills on Monday 
    June 4, 2023
    HDB targets 25% growth in profits, various activities by 2023-end: CEO
    HDB targets 25% growth in profits, various activities by 2023-end: CEO
    June 4, 2023
    Bank ABC Egypt sees 158% profit growth in 1Q 2023, after merging with BLOM Bank
    Bank ABC Egypt sees 158% profit growth in 1Q 2023, after merging with BLOM Bank
    June 4, 2023
    146% growth in net profit of Attijariwafa bank Egypt reaching EGP 434.5m in 1Q 2023
    146% growth in net profit of Attijariwafa bank Egypt reaching EGP 434.5m in 1Q 2023
    June 4, 2023
    Al Ahly Pharos tops brokerage ranking in May
    Al Ahly Pharos tops brokerage ranking in May
    June 4, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    GERD, Sudan, and Libya crises top Al-Sisi and Mauritanian counterpart talks 
    GERD, Sudan, and Libya crises top Al-Sisi and Mauritanian counterpart talks 
    June 4, 2023
    Iranian, Saudi FMs meet on bilateral ties
    Iranian, Saudi FMs meet on bilateral ties
    June 4, 2023
    Egypt’s PM inspects service, development projects in Alexandria
    Egypt’s PM inspects service, development projects in Alexandria
    June 4, 2023
    FM Shoukry attends inauguration ceremony of Turkish President
    FM Shoukry attends inauguration ceremony of Turkish President
    June 3, 2023
    1 Egyptian security personnel, 3 Israeli soldiers were killed in border shooting
    1 Egyptian security personnel, 3 Israeli soldiers were killed in border shooting 
    June 3, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    EFG Finance to launch unified platform gathering all its financing services: Alaa Al-Afifi
    May 31, 2023
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    I changed my artistic path to create ‘state of wonder’: Tarek Lotfi
    May 25, 2023
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    I adore Ramadan drama, ‘Telt Al-Talata’ series achieved great success: Ghada Abdel Razek
    May 8, 2023
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    We aim to establish Egypt as nearshore centre for Software AG for MET region: Rami Kichli
    April 29, 2023
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    Egypt-Spain relations witness remarkable development in recent years: Spanish ambassador in Cairo
    April 18, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: Editor’s letter: Smells like Nazif
Share
Notification
Latest News
CBE to issue $540m worth of dollar-denominated T-bills on Monday 
CBE to issue $540m worth of dollar-denominated T-bills on Monday 
Business
GERD, Sudan, and Libya crises top Al-Sisi and Mauritanian counterpart talks 
GERD, Sudan, and Libya crises top Al-Sisi and Mauritanian counterpart talks 
Politics Egypt
HDB targets 25% growth in profits, various activities by 2023-end: CEO
HDB targets 25% growth in profits, various activities by 2023-end: CEO
Banking
Bank ABC Egypt sees 158% profit growth in 1Q 2023, after merging with BLOM Bank
Bank ABC Egypt sees 158% profit growth in 1Q 2023, after merging with BLOM Bank
Banking
146% growth in net profit of Attijariwafa bank Egypt reaching EGP 434.5m in 1Q 2023
146% growth in net profit of Attijariwafa bank Egypt reaching EGP 434.5m in 1Q 2023
Banking
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Opinion > Editor’s letter: Smells like Nazif
Opinion

Editor’s letter: Smells like Nazif

Maher Hamoud
Last updated: 2012/11/15 at 3:31 AM
By Maher Hamoud 5 Min Read
Share
Maher Hamoud
Maher Hamoud
SHARE
Maher Hamoud
Maher Hamoud

Going through Hesham Qandil’s plan for development until 2022 makes you feel that Ahmed Nazif, Mubarak’s prime minister currently imprisoned for corruption charges, was a genius after all. Qandil’s plan is basically jsut an Ikhwanised imitation of the Mubarak-Nazif one. It uses the same language and suggests the same backward thinking.

Qandil’s vision of development is literally, “mobilising the January 25th Revolution’s spirit for making Egypt a free, civil, regionally pioneering, globally influential state with a national independent economy based on knowledge.

“An economy that invests in the capabilities of the human and the ingenuity of the place. A just society that protects citizenship values and holds to its national identity, cultural heritage and religious civilised values, where all citizens enjoy human dignity, prosperity, quality life with no distinction. All in an environmental framework that encourages continuous development and effective societal participation.”

Such a lovely verse. But what is it actually that makes it different from any other plan? Maybe His Excellency’s mention of what he calls the revolutionary spirit, to which neither he nor President Morsy seem to adhere?

This plan is sadly nothing but a rehash of Mubarak’s failed plans, with a large portion taken from Nazif’s last plan approved and blessed by the ousted president a few months before the revolution.

Such hollow platitudes of simplistic governance values that were never described in actual or effective practical details are can be taken as a given for any country and need not be mentioned in a plan. Maybe they best belong to an inspirational poster to be hung in front of his office in the cabinet building.

Lucky him, he does not have a parliament with which he has to discuss such a notorious plan. In a true democracy, a prime minister would be politically crucified for such poetic nonsense presented as a plan. For some absurd reason we still live since Mubarak’s times.

Shamelessly, the resemblance to Nazif’s plan does not stop at the language used, it even copies thoughts wholesale. Courageously, Qandil has copied details from a plan introduced by a prime minister and president who were ousted by a revolution that broke out for the very reasons that His Excellency is now re-introducing to us, in the same language.

For example, the part of the plan that talks about privatising what is left of the public sector is not a new one. It was suggested by Nazif and approved by Mubarak right before the revolution, which froze the plan for the obvious reasons that the people were totally against it.

It was a plan called “legalised privatization”, where at least 20 per cent of state-owned companies would be offered for sale in the stock market. Investors (companies or individuals) would be allowed to buy quotas that varied depending on the financial needs of the company.

As it was when Nazif proposed it, Qandil’s proposal is a typical example of pandering to the IMF. The plan is actually a perfect match with the current government’s suspicious and opaque goal of convincing the IMF to grant a US$4.8 billion loan to fix the public financial system. How pathetically more obvious could a plan be?

Ironically, Qandil’s plan follows the same strategy of previous born-to-fail ones. Not just hollow in language and details, or hypocritically seeking the blessings of international players. It actually predicts its own failure within the body of the plan itself. It mentions a long list of obstacles against implementation that go beyond the concept of challenges. The plan makes it look like deadlock.

Corruption, unemployment, big budget deficit, income disparity, illiteracy, poor public services, food security and more are all among what Qandil calls “challenges”. A well-worn trick that has always been played to justify failure in advance. At some point the government will say that they are sorry but it was very difficult on them. But let’s make another plan!

Obviously, neither Qandil nor Morsy are in touch with the Egyptian street. They are detached from the frustrations and aspirations of the people who started a revolution that brought both of them to power. Power that seems to be quickly slipping out of their hands. Maybe if that happened they might realise that a non-revolutionary ten-year is just wishful thinking.

 

You Might Also Like

Opinion| Russia and China promote stability in the Middle East after the US withdrawal from the region

Opinion| The American debt crisis and the 2024 elections

Opinion| Tips for startups operating in the tough environment of emerging markets

Opinion| Behind the scenes of the US-China conflict over Taiwan’s chips

Opinion| G7 Summit mobilizes Asian countries against China, while Beijing strengthens its position in Central Asia

TAGGED: maher hamoud, Nazif, Qandil, regime
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
By Maher Hamoud
Former Editor-in-Chief of The Daily News Egypt, and currently Media Politics Analyst. He can be followed on Twitter @MaherHamoud1, his public page on Facebook, or email: [email protected]
Previous Article Shahira Amin The battle against female genital mutilation
Next Article In pictures: Interview with Pope Tawadros (Photo by Hassan Ibrahim) In pictures: Pope Tawadros II in St. Bishoy Monastery
1 Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image
Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

CBE to issue $540m worth of dollar-denominated T-bills on Monday 
CBE to issue $540m worth of dollar-denominated T-bills on Monday 
Business
GERD, Sudan, and Libya crises top Al-Sisi and Mauritanian counterpart talks 
GERD, Sudan, and Libya crises top Al-Sisi and Mauritanian counterpart talks 
Politics Egypt
HDB targets 25% growth in profits, various activities by 2023-end: CEO
HDB targets 25% growth in profits, various activities by 2023-end: CEO
Banking
Bank ABC Egypt sees 158% profit growth in 1Q 2023, after merging with BLOM Bank
Bank ABC Egypt sees 158% profit growth in 1Q 2023, after merging with BLOM Bank
Banking
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?