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Egypt: Basboussa for President!

· Written by Tarek Amr

Categories: Middle East & North Africa, Egypt, Elections, Governance, Politics, Women & Gender

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011 [1].

“Former Egyptian television anchor and activist Bothaina Kamel announced on her Twitter account late Friday evening [2] [ar] Cairo time that she plans to run for president in the next round of elections, making her the first woman ever to announce her candidacy for Egypt’s highest office”, Manar Ammar [3]

This is how Manar Ammar reported the news of Bothaina Kamel running for the Egyptian presidential elections. Kamel (@basboussa1 [4]) has received mixed reactions from Twitter users.

Twitter user @FaresADL [5] could not believe it, so he wrote to Kamel wondering if the news had been confirmed or was just a rumour:

@FaresADL [6]: @basboussa1 [4] are you really running for presidency?

Fatma Emam, who is a feminist wrote about the news:

@fatmaemam [7]: Bothina Kamel the first and only women candidate for presidency in #Egypt [8] , follow her on @basboussa1 [4] , in solidarity#womenrights [9] #jan25 [10]
Photo taken from the Facebook account of Bothaina Kamel; participating in a demonstration during the World Day Against Corruption. [11]

Photo taken from the Facebook account of Bothaina Kamel; participating in a demonstration during the World Day Against Corruption.

Lara (@FarawlaLawra [12]) found it good news, whether she is convinced to vote for her or not:

@FarawlaLawra [13]: @basboussa1 [4] I am so proud and glad u r running- its a step forward to opening up the society to equal rights.(even if i might not vote 4 u)

Mahmoud Salem, aka @Sandmonkey [14], also wrote in support:

@Sandmonkey [15]: @basboussa1 [4] ana ma3aky ya rayessah 3ala fekra. so far u have my vote.

In this video uploaded to YouTube by user moushebl1 [16] on April 3, 2011, Kamel announces her plans to run for presidency [17] [ar].

Some people commented on the above video against her running for presidency.

MyHamosa: انا ارفض ان تحكمنا امراة
MyHamosa: I'm against us being ruled by a woman
Algeriangirls123: اعتقد انها لن تحصل حى على التأييد لمن اجل دخول الأنتخابات
Algeriangirls123: I don't think she will even have the minimum votes required to enter the elections!

Radwa El-Shami questioned [18] the reason behind the huge number of candidates running for presidency in Egypt:

The number is increasing and I am seriously starting to question the intentions and motives of every person willing to ascend the throne of Egypt. It is looking more like I can't serve the country unless I am at the top of the hierarchy, unless I am the president. I admit that I am also questioning who is hankering for power and prestige
I am asking why Mr. Shafiq is running for presidency (at least 10 million Egyptians out of 45 million who have the right to vote refused him as a prime minister!); why Dr. Amr Khaled is considering running for presidency (still not confirmed); what good Sheikh Hassan thinks he will do to Egypt as its president (rumor has it that he is running for presidency); why Mr. Mortada Mansour imagines he can be the president (is he going to govern us with threats and loud voice); why Ms. Bothaina Kamel wants to be the president (feminism?); why some are cajoling Mr. Naguib Sawiris into being part of this (news from here and there, but he personally said Baradei is his favorite figure); and I am also asking what Dr. AlBaradei's stance is after the masses accepted the lame constitutional amendments by which he refuses to be the president.

Radwa then continued:

I don’t know if I am the only one who pessimistically perceives the situation as farcical, and this is the reason am writing. I am voicing my concerns because I need a reassurance. I am asking for a well-informed, insightful opinion; I am looking for someone to talk sense.

This post is part of our special coverage Egypt Revolution 2011 [1].