Hosni promises free(r) and fair(er) elections

I'm sure Mubarak will allow some cosmetic changes -- better international monitoring, for example -- but forgive me for being skeptical that he'll address the real problem: the dearth of independent candidates in Egyptian elections. By the time election day rolls around, Mubarak's National Democratic Party has already won, because constitutional roadblocks make it almost impossible for independents to run.

I was reminded of this last week when I heard U.S. assistant secretary of state Jeffrey Feltman speak at the Hudson Institute. Someone asked Feltman what the U.S. plans to do to ensure Egypt's election is free and fair. He responded with some talk of U.N. monitoring -- which is good, and important, but an incomplete solution. 

Former IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei underscored this point in a recent interview with Foreign Policy (emphasis mine).

What I've said is that I would not even consider running for president unless there is the proper framework for a free and fair election -- and that is still the major question mark in Egypt. I don't believe the conditions are in place for free and fair elections. In fact, I just sent an article to an Egyptian newspaper today setting out what needs to be done before I could consider it. These guarantees [include] an independent judicial review, international oversight, and equal opportunity for media coverage -- there is a lot that needs to be in place -- and of course, the ability to run as an independent. The Constitution is written in a way that I cannot run unless I join an existing party, which, to me, is not how a democratic system works.

For a longer treatment of this subject, refer back to ElBaradei's lengthy December interview with El-Shorouk, helpfully (and painstakingly) translated into English by The Boursa Exchange.

In case you were wondering, by the way, Mubarak didn't tell the police magazine whether he plans to run for reelection, or whether Gamal Mubarak is planning a presidential bid.