I'll banish lawlessness, boost economy

The former manager in Egyptian intelligence and presidential candidate, Mamdouh Kotb, said his electoral bid was due to the lawlessness and socio-economic decline that are currently plaguing Egypt. He said that he would exert his utmost efforts and would contribute his time, money, and experience to solve Egypt’s problems in the shortest time possible. Kotb mentioned in an interview with Arabstoday: “I owe this country a lot, and I consider myself loyal to it, and I ask God to enable me to give it what it deserves.” He pointed out that he was a self-made person who grew up in a middle-class family, lived in the Imbaba neighbourhood (a densely populated slum in the Giza governorate) and was proud of his roots. He added that he considered himself a servant to every Egyptian, and that he was obliged to secure a decent life for every citizen of the country. On why he was late in announcing his candidacy, he stated: “This is due to many reasons, particularly as I was responsible for the human rights sector in the Misr Al Kheir foundation in the post-revolution.” Another reason was that he busy helping establish the al-Hadara party. He also stated that he was proud of his military attachment from 1975 to 1982 before joining Egypt's intelligence agency where he served for 25 years. Kotb said that during the reign of the former regime, Israel was able to inflitrate certain institutions in Egypt but not the intelligence agency. As for his relationship with the former regime, he explained that the it did not abide by the recommendations he prepared during his intelligence work on resolving the water issue, in which many experts contributed, led by Mahmoud Abu-Zeid, the former minister for irrigation and water resources. Regarding his electoral programme, he added that he wanted to urgently smooth internal divisions in the nation between all strata and sects, as well as sustain security, without which "nothing could be achieved". For the amendment of Article 28 of the presidential elections law, he said: “Amending Article 28 of the presidential elections Law will interrupt the election process,” highlighting that “we need to end the transitional period as soon as possible and currently there is no opportunity to change, as changing the article requires carrying out a referendum”. Mamdouh Kotb also said that he preferred the role of vice president be handed to a youth, as Egypt was is need of young people to carry it into the future. He rejected the idea of a “safe exit” for the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF), saying: “No one is above law and whoever committed a mistake should be held accountable.” At the end of the interview, Kotb said that he refuses any institution be placed above another and that he seeks building a democratic state, where all powers are equally distributed.