In a move that marks (for the millionth time) the randomness of this whole “democratic reform,” Mubarak has “surprised” us with a new announcement, stating he’s ammending Article 76 of the constitution, that was tailored by his legislators last year. There was absolutely nothing mentioned about such ammendment during the last NDP’s congress. Note also that the long-awaited Counterterrorism Law, that is to replace the notorious Emergency Law we’ve been living under since the start of Mubarak’s reign, will not be presented to the parliament in this coming session.

Here’s an AP report by the exceptional Nadia Abou El-Magd…

Egypt to amend constitution article criticized as opening way for succession of Mubarak’s son

CAIRO, Egypt (AP) _ Egypt will amend its constitution to make it easier for candidates to run as president, the parliament speaker said Monday, stating the reform would include changes to an article criticized as opening the way for President Hosni Mubarak’s son to succeed him.

Changing article 76 of the constitution is one of the political reforms Mubarak plans to undertake next year, Parliament Speaker Fathi Sorour told the official Middle East News Agency.
“Next year will witness the most extensive amendments to the constitution since 1971,” Sorour told MENA. He did not give specific details about the reforms, but said the controversial article would be among those up for change.
Presidential spokesman Suleiman Awad said in a statement that the president “won’t oppose considering an amendment to article 76, in order to increase the chances of (political) parties to participate in presidential elections.”
The article was rewritten last year to allow multi-candidate presidential elections. But opposition contends that instead it deliberately made it impossible for anyone to compete against the ruling party in the next presidential elections.
Article 76 provides that independent candidates must obtain 250 recommendations from members of parliament or city councils before they can enter the race. Because most political offices are held by Mubarak’s NDP, opposition parties fear they won’t be able to field any presidential candidate.
The article also rules that only political parties representing at least five percent of Parliament can put forward a presidential candidate. No political party achieved this in last year’s legislative elections.
The ruling National Democratic Party previously refused to amend the article, and Egypt’s opposition said this demonstrated that Mubarak’s party was planning to clear the path for the president’s son, Gamal Mubarak, to take power.

Gamal Mubarak, 42, has risen rapidly through the ranks of his father’s party in recent years and is now deputy secretary general. Despite his denials, many believe he is being groomed to succeed Mubarak, who is 78 and has been in power for over two decades.
Opposition figures on Monday said they feared the announced reforms were purely cosmetic, and only geared at winning public adherence ahead of the next presidential elections, due in 2011.
“The new proposed amendment is still part of scenario of (Mubarak’s son) inheriting power,” said Hesham el-Bastawisy, a High Court judge and a vocal critic of the earlier constitutional amendment.

The head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s main opposition force, said he didn’t expect the constitutional change to make it easier for his group to field a presidential candidate.
Technically illegal as a political party, the Muslim Brotherhood has 88 lawmakers in Parliament, where they sit as independents.
“The real competition is between the independents, who are mainly the Brotherhood, and the NDP, not between authorized political parties and the ruling party,” Mohammed Saad el-Katatny told The Associated Press.
Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said earlier this year the government was studying measures to ban independents and outlawed groups from running in any election.