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As disgraced former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak s healthdeteriorates and he apparently has slipped into grave condition the man who loves him best is the one who stands to gain most bythis situation. More Related to this Story Mubarak s health in dangerous phase, Egyptian officials say Egypt prosecutor to appeal Hosni Mubarak trial verdicts Globe Editorial The Egyptian election holds some democratic promise Presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq, who faces a run-off vote June16 and 17 against Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Morsi, has madeno secret of his affection for Mr. Mubarak, referring to him as his"role model." It was Mr. Mubarak who appointed Major General Shafiq, then chiefof the air force, first as civil aviation minister then, in thelast days of the regime, as prime minister. It was said by manythat the efficient Gen. Shafiq was president Mubarak s pick tosucceed him. (Mr. Mubarak was said to know that the powerfulSupreme Council of the Armed Forces would never accept Mr.Mubarak s son, Gamal, as his successor since the younger man hadnever served in the military let alone risen to a high position.) In this first truly open election for president, Gen. Shafiqreceived about 25 per cent of first-round votes, just a few ballotsfewer than Mr. Morsi. The handsome 70-year-old Gen. Shafiq, a renowned fighter-pilot inhis younger days, was the choice of the pro-Mubarak crowd, ofChristians and Sufi Muslims who fear the possibility of an Islamicregime, and of citizens who simply crave a return to law and order. They and many other Egyptians both people who supported some ofthe other candidates in the initial round and the more than 53 percent of the electorate who did not vote were disturbed either bythe former president s recent conviction as an accessory tomurder, or by the life sentence he received. "He s a former war hero," one woman said at the time ofthe verdict. "He s suffered enough," she said, referringto having lost his high office and enduring the indignity ofprison. It s a common sentiment. Even Egyptians who dislike theman for his human rights excesses or alleged corruption don t liketo see any man of his age, 84, treated so harshly. And Gen. Shafiq is the beneficiary of all this sympathy. More than that, the protests that have erupted since the verdict onSaturday, while not nearly as large as they would have been had Mr.Mubarak been acquitted, are once again troubling large sectors ofthe electorate. Fed up with the chaos, the absence of tourism, the decline ofinvestment and the slumping economy, people want it all to be over. In Gen. Shafiq they see a man who will end the anarchy. He hasvowed to end the protests "within six hours." The longer the current protests continue, the greater the supportwill be for Gen. Shafiq. And should his patron, Mr. Mubarak, die before the vote, the regretthat many Egyptians would feel will translate immediately into alarge turnout for Gen. Shafiq and the old-fashioned order heoffers. More Related to this Story Egypt's Islamist candidate reassures women, Christians Egypt's run-off election pits Islamist against Mubarak ally In Egyptian election, results point to deeply divisive run-off race. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as Synthetic Latex Gloves Manufacturer , High Risk Gloves Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Synthetic Latex Gloves today!
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