Dynamics of political reforms in Egypt has been developing for nearly two years,. Since November 2004, When Mubarak fainted while delivering a speech in the Egyptian Parliament; it was no longer possible to conceal his deteriorating health. For the first time, the incident seriously put forward the question of Egypt post Mubarak, raising the concerns of local, regional, and international observers. In order to comfort such concerns, Mubarak reinforced his plan bequeath power to his son, but the fancy idea brought to him outrageous domestic and international resentment.

Failing to avoid this resentment, Mubarak finally resorted to another sophisticated plan. The first pillar of this plan was to diminish the international pressure to reform in Egypt. He used all cards in hands, including offering Egypt’s mediation services in the Middle-East conflicts. In addition, he went through a calculated risk operation to send a message to the outside world that he is being more open by allowing relatively more free presidential and parliamentary elections last fall. Mubarak, however; had another hidden message for the growing domestic opposition. His second pillar was to keep the domestic resentment within limits. As I have been told more than once by security officers “We can allow gradual long term marginal reforms, but don’t go far and ask for more; soon you will have to deal with us alone after the faces are turn away” . The message was clearly conceived by most of the tamed opposition groups that the Egyptian regime isn’t growing open, but rather growing patient.

Of course it was an easy job for Mubarak and his ruling party to secure sweeping victory in these elections because of the last 25 years of absolute monopoly over all the political, economical and legislative powers in Egypt. But this victory didn’t go free of charge. Real independent opposition seized the opportunity to question Mubarak’s legitimacy. For the first time, the concept of political defiance has been widely exercised against him. Consequently, Mubarak and his regime, soon after the election were over, started a containment plan to close what seemed to have become a Pandora box. The plan aimed to restore the previous accomplished fact in Egypt by:

• Delaying the municipal election for two years; Hence Mubarak’s proposed constitutional amendments last year required every presidential candidate to have the support of more than 150 local representatives, The only possible presidential candidate during the coming two years will be only an NDP candidate because the current municipal councils is 97% manipulated by NDP.
• Extending the twenty five renewed emergency laws in spite of the presidential promise to abolish them.
• Dismantling the regime’s biggest potential threats: Mubarak’s main two liberal competitors in the presidential election (Noaman Goma’a, the leader of Alwafd Liberal Party and Ayman Nour, the leader of Alghad Liberal Party) were both removedy) were both removed from their party’s leaderships, imprisoned for criminal charges. • Besieging the reform calls from different sectors inside the Egyptian Society: Two of the leaders of the judges club were interrogated, hundreds of political activists from Kefaya movement and Muslim Brothers have been brutally attacked and brought to custody. Government controlled Media are launching wide defaming campaigns against leaders of Human right and Democracy activists. • Issuing new precautionary laws: The NDP manipulated parliament passes new distorted legislations put forward by the government to control judges, journalists and restrict the newly gained political freedom of speech in order to shut the way in the face of real progressive laws. In spite of all these arbitrary oppressive procedures, Egyptian reformers continue to defy Mubarak and his regime. This can be seen through several positive aspects: • The Judges Club won more rounds in their fight for autonomy and Judicial independence. They have managed to pressure the government to acquit their interrogated leaders and pushed them to adopt more progressive judiciary law. Moreover, they continued to denounce this new law and called for more adjustments that will completely answer their demands for total independence and supervision over the election process. • Journalists have managed to force the government to remove some important restrictions from the new proposed journalism law. All the same, they -too-continued to denounce this new law until more adjustments are made to answer their demand for abolishing detention punishments against them. • Muslim Brothers continue to disturb the regime’s monopoly over the legislation process through their current 20% representation in the Parliament. • Many prominent regime allied figures and NDP party leaders have been converting to, or largely express their support and compassion to the opposition’s demands. • Kefaya Movement continues to play an imp from their party’s leaderships, imprisoned for criminal charges.
• Besieging the reform calls from different sectors inside the Egyptian Society: Two of the leaders of the judges club were interrogated, hundreds of political activists from Kefaya movement and Muslim Brothers have been brutally attacked and brought to custody. Government controlled Media are launching wide defaming campaigns against leaders of Human right and Democracy activists.
• Issuing new precautionary laws: The NDP manipulated parliament passes new distorted legislations put forward by the government to control judges, journalists and restrict the newly gained political freedom of speech in order to shut the way in the face of real progressive laws.

In spite of all these arbitrary oppressive procedures, Egyptian reformers continue to defy Mubarak and his regime. This can be seen through several positive aspects:

• The Judges Club won more rounds in their fight for autonomy and Judicy) were both removed from their party’s leaderships, imprisoned for criminal charges.
• Besieging the reform calls from different sectors inside the Egyptian Society: Two of the leaders of the judges club were interrogated, hundreds of political activists from Kefaya movement and Muslim Brothers have been brutally attacked and brought to custody. Government controlled Media are launching wide defaming campaigns against leaders of Human right and Democracy activists.
• Issuing new precautionary laws: The NDP manipulated parliament passes new distorted legislations put forward by the government to control judges, journalists and restrict the newly gained political freedom of speech in order to shut the way in the face of real progressive laws.

In spite of all these arbitrary oppressive procedures, Egyptian reformers continue to defy Mubarak and his regime. This can be seen through several positive aspects:

• The Judges Club won more rounds in their fight for autonomy and Judortant role in coordination and activation of the Egyptian opposition because of their active involvement in most of the Egyptian opposition parties and groups. • Many Egyptian NGOs have managed to overcome the strong siege over them and with the help of the foreign funds; they have managed to play an active role in monitoring the election allowing more fair and transparent process. Furthermore, these NGOs have managed to establish a strong network among each other witch enabled them to maximize their resources and capabilities. Such capacities can easily be used in strengthening the Egyptian civil society role which surely will benefit the reformation agenda. • New Egyptian independent newspapers are speaking out and severely criticizing the regime which provides a safe net for reformers, widely disseminates their ideas, and largely reduces the fear among the public. The Egyptian regime is trying to set the course of time back again, and even though they can manage to win some more time, they can never stop the Egyptian people’s thirst for freedom any more. As the departed Arab poet Nazar Kabbany entitles one of his poems “No River Runs Backwards”. The sweet taste of freedoms was relished and the more autocrats try to bitter its tasty flavor by their salted doses, the more enticed democrats fight back. icial independence. They have managed to pressure the government to acquit their interrogated leaders and pushed them to adopt more progressive judiciary law. Moreover, they continued to denounce this new law and called for more adjustments that will completely answer their demands for total independence and supervision over the election process.
• Journalists have managed to force the government to remove some important restrictions from the new proposed journalism law. All the same, they -too-continued to denounce this new law until more adjustments are made to answer their demand for abolishing detention punishments against them.
• Muslim Brothers continue to disturb the regime’s monopoly over the legislation process through their current 20% representation in the Parliament.
• Many prominent regime allied figures and NDP party leaders have been converting to, or largely express their support and compassion to the opposition’s demands.
• Kefaya Movement continues to play an important role in coordination and activation of the Egyptian opposition because of their active involvement in most of the Egyptian opposition parties and groups.
• Many Egyptian NGOs have managed to overcome the strong siege over them and with the help of the foreign funds; they have managed to play an active role in monitoring the election allowing more fair and transparent process. Furthermore, these NGOs have managed to establish a strong network among each other witch enabled them to maximize their resources and capabilities. Such capacities can easily be used in strengthening the Egyptian civil society role which surely will benefit the reformation agenda.
• New Egyptian independent newspapers are speaking out and severely criticizing the regime which provides a safe net for reformers, widely disseminates their ideas, and largely reduces the fear among the public.

The Egyptian regime is trying to set the course of time back again, and even though they can manage to win some more time, they can never stop the Egyptian people’s thirst for freedom any more. As the departed Arab poet Nazar Kabbany entitles one of his poems “No River Runs Backwards”. The sweet taste of freedoms was relished and the more autocrats try to bitter its tasty flavor by their salted doses, the more enticed democrats fight back.