PETER KING, Cairo | Monday 7.00pm.
HOSNI Mubarak was confirmed Egypt’s president for a fourth term on Monday in a yes-or-no popular ballot that Western diplomats called a “formality,” but hoped would pave the way for further economic reforms.
Mubarak won 93,79% of the vote in Sunday’s nationwide vote.
One Western diplomat said that although such high figures of support probably reflected the truth, the referendum was relatively insignificant compared with the political changes that are expected to follow.
“Now that this formality has been dispensed with, Mubarak’s next logical step is to reshuffle his cabinet,” he said.
“The question is: Will he bring in new blood or stick with the old faces?”
The 71-year-old leader, who has ruled Egypt for 18 years, has promised to pursue economic reforms and reshuffle his cabinet after he is sworn in before parliament for his new term October 5.
6,21% of voters -or just over a million- rejected Mubarak and the rest spoiled their ballots.
“To a large extent people were being brought in to polling stations” by ministries and public sector companies, he said, adding that actual vote-rigging was unlikely.
In 1993, Mubarak was elected with 96,28% percent of the 84% turnout, although the opposition charged both figures had been rigged. — AFP