VZCZCXRO6703
PP RUEHROV
DE RUEHEG #2302/01 3491546
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 151546Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4456
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CAIRO 002302
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, DRL/NESCA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/15/2029
TAGS: ELAB KDEM KPAO PGOV EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT'S PRESS SYNDICATE ELECTIONS
REF: 07 CAIRO 3299
Classified By: Economic-Political Minister-Counselor Donald A. Blome for reason 1.4 (d).
1.Key Points: -- (SBU) Incumbent Egyptian Press Syndicate Chairman Makram Mohamed Ahmed, the pro-government
editor-in-chief of a state-owned magazine, defeated independent candidate Diaa Rashwan and was re-elected to a second
two year term in a December 13 run-off election. -- (SBU) Despite complaints by Rashwan, an analyst at the GoE-funded Al
Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, that editors of pro-government newspapers influenced the election by
pressuring employees to vote for Ahmed, the election appears to have been generally fair.
2. (C) Comment: While Ahmed clearly was the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and GoE's preferred candidate, the
GoE appears to have done little or nothing to interfere in this relatively competitive election. In contrast,
immediately before the 2007 Press Syndicate election, the GoE awarded a pay increase to journalists working for
state-owned publications, a tactic that local analysts believe ensured Ahmed's victory, as he was perceived as
"delivering" the pay raise (reftel A). In this year's election, Press Syndicate members, generally low-paid journalists
writing for licensed government and independent news outlets, appear to have been persuaded that Ahmed was best
positioned - because of his close ties to the GoE - to continue to address their economic concerns. Rashwan also may
have lost support, especially among his core constituency of younger journalist writing for independent newspapers,
after engaging in what some syndicate members viewed as an unseemly celebration following his near victory in the first
round of voting. End comment. -------------------------------- Press Syndicate Election Results
--------------------------------
3. (SBU) Egypt's Press Syndicate, a 5500-member organization, held a first round of elections on December 6 with Ahmed
receiving 1497 votes and Rashwan 1458. Other candidates received a combined total of approximately 100 votes. Because no
candidate received an absolute majority, the Press Syndicate held the December 13 run-off, with Ahmed winning with 2419
votes to Rashwan's 1561. Observers attributed the increased turn-out for the run-off election largely to growing
interest in what syndicate members realized was a competitive race. Ahmed will remain in office for a second two year
term. (Note: Members of the Press Syndicate's 12-person board of directors serve four-year terms, with the next election
scheduled for 2011. End note.) -------------------------- A Generally Fair Election --------------------------
4. (C) Sharif Khilaly, who leads a civil society organization focused on the political process in Egypt's syndicates and
trade unions, told us that Rashwan, who he described as an independent with Nasserist sympathies, and not an Islamist
despite his professional focus on the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), had substantial support from younger journalists.
According to Khilaly, the "new generation" of journalists, especially those writing for independent newspapers, view the
74 year-old Ahmed as a pro-government dinosaur and were inclined to support Rashwan. As the election approached,
however, Khilaly believes Ahmed was able to convince many that he would be more effective in advancing syndicate
members' economic interests. Khilaly also said that Ahmed ran a more sophisticated and technologically advanced
campaign. Khilaly said that while his organization, which monitored the election, received two complaints of improper
influence on voters (including an unverified allegation that some editors-in chief asked employees to take pictures of
their completed ballots), his overall assessment is that the election was fair and reflects the will of syndicate
members.
5. (U) Shortly after the syndicate announced election results, respected journalist, television talk show host, and Al
Ghad party co-founder Ahmed Al Messlemany praised the election as "as good as it gets," a "real election," and wished
"all Egyptian elections could be like the Press Syndicate's." Al Messlamany attributed Ahmed's victory to a superior
campaign and a perception that Rashwan had MB ties. CAIRO 00002302 002 OF 002 Scobey