I don\'t regret NDP stint

Sami Abdel Mohsen El-Batekhy Cairo – Akram Ali    Egyptian parliamentary candidate for Alexandria Sami Abdel Mohsen El-Batekhy has said that he is not ashamed of being  a member of the National Democratic Party (NDP). El-Batekhy said restoring security to Egyptian streets was a priority of his, while at the same time he asked the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to use force to end protests. El-Batekhy, who is now a member of the Egypt National Party  founded by Talaat al-Sadat said in an interview with ‘Arabstoday’ that he stands in Sidy Bishr constituency. El-Batekhy admitted that he was one of the disbanded NDP's members. He said: “I will work to spread democracy and prosperity, and to look for a decent life for citizens.” He pointed out that being part of the former regime is not a shameful thing, because he did not abuse his power. “I hope people can understand and differentiate between good and evil, because sometimes appearances fooled Egyptian citizens,” El-Batekhy added. About the Egypt National Party, which was founded by Sadat two months before his death, El-Batekhy said: “The Egypt National Party tries to give the members of NDP a chance to join to prove that they weren’t part of the corruption.” El-Batekhy expects Muslim Brotherhood to poll the majority of votes. He also said that the Brotherhood would win 40 per cent of the seats, leaving the remainder to others. El-Batekhy called on all the Egyptian people to exercise their right to vote, considering it as “the first step on the road to democracy.” Samer el-Batekhy was a former local council member in Alexandria and a former member of the people’s Assembly for two sessions, on the disbanded NDP board.