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| Egypt leader to outline changes | Egypt leader to outline changes |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is expected to announce plans for a number of constitutional changes in a speech before parliament. | |
| Mr Mubarak has already made it clear that he would like to make it easier for political parties to present presidential candidates. | Mr Mubarak has already made it clear that he would like to make it easier for political parties to present presidential candidates. |
| It is also understood that some of the changes will enhance the powers of both parliament and the prime minister. | It is also understood that some of the changes will enhance the powers of both parliament and the prime minister. |
| These are likely to be cautious changes that will not affect the power balance. | These are likely to be cautious changes that will not affect the power balance. |
| The constitution was amended last year to allow the country to hold contested presidential elections. | The constitution was amended last year to allow the country to hold contested presidential elections. |
| But so many conditions were imposed that, in effect, only the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of Mr Mubarak is eligible to present presidential candidates. | But so many conditions were imposed that, in effect, only the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) of Mr Mubarak is eligible to present presidential candidates. |
| Opposition 'too weak' | Opposition 'too weak' |
| The president now wants to loosen some of the restrictions so that the legal opposition parties could compete. | The president now wants to loosen some of the restrictions so that the legal opposition parties could compete. |
| Mubarak's son could succeed him establishing a dynasty in a republicOfficials of the ruling NDP say it will provide an incentive for the opposition to improve its performance. | Mubarak's son could succeed him establishing a dynasty in a republicOfficials of the ruling NDP say it will provide an incentive for the opposition to improve its performance. |
| The legal parties here are too weak to present much of an obstacle to any candidate backed by the NDP. | The legal parties here are too weak to present much of an obstacle to any candidate backed by the NDP. |
| Critics of Mr Mubarak say the changes are aimed at facilitating the succession of his son, Gamal, through a process which looks democratic. | Critics of Mr Mubarak say the changes are aimed at facilitating the succession of his son, Gamal, through a process which looks democratic. |
| The amendments are not expected to ease the restrictions faced by independent presidential candidates. They are likely to come from the Muslim Brotherhood - a popular, though illegal group. | The amendments are not expected to ease the restrictions faced by independent presidential candidates. They are likely to come from the Muslim Brotherhood - a popular, though illegal group. |
| Officials say Mr Mubarak will also announce plans to give some additional powers to the prime minister and to parliament but again the changes here are likely to prove limited. | Officials say Mr Mubarak will also announce plans to give some additional powers to the prime minister and to parliament but again the changes here are likely to prove limited. |