The Arabist

The Arabist

By Issandr El Amrani and friends.

Who was and wasn't at Egypt's National Dialogue.

One of criticisms and suggestions Ayman Nor made before his arrest was that since opposition party presidents and secretary-generals had to meet with the National Democratic Party during Egypt's ongoing National Dialogue discussions that the same should apply to the ruling party.

Instead the NDP sends its S-G Safwat al-Sherif and Membership head Kimal al-Shazli. The president of the NDP is, naturally, also president of the republic.

You could practically hear al-Sherif scoff at the thought of president Mubarak forced to waste his precious time with these troublesome oppositon parties when Nor made such a request.

Nevertheless, based off of this picture published in today's al-Misri al-Yom, an argument could be made that the president attended.

Head of the Table