LOC22:05
19:05 GMT
NEW YORK, June 20 (KUNA) -- The International Peace Institute (IPI)
concluded in a new poll released on Monday on public attitudes in Egypt that
only 50 percent of the Egyptian population now thinks the country is headed in
the right direction, compared to 82 percent last March.
The concern about the economy, disorder, and crime has risen substantially
since then, IPI said in a statement released here.
"The poll shows that Egyptians remain hopeful about their future, but
optimism is waning as economic and security concerns mount during the
transition period," said Terje Rod-Larsen, IPI President.
"In this context of uncertainty, the poll also illustrates a preference for
candidates and parties with a longtime presence in Egyptian politics," he
added.
As the country heads towards democratic elections, outgoing Arab League
Secretary-General Amr Moussa remains front runner for the November
presidential election with 32 percent of voting intentions.
If they run, sitting Prime Minister Essam Sharaf would place second at 16
percent and Marshall Mohammad Tantawi third at eight percent. Opposition
leaders Mohammad El Baradei and Ayman Nour get just two percent and three
percent of vote intentions respectively.
However, the statement noted, competition is likely to increase as
presidential campaigns pick up momentum over the summer.
The two best known and oldest parties - the secular, liberal Wafd and the
Islamist, Muslim Brotherhood - still lead in the race for Egypt's parliament,
the People's Assembly. The Wafd is favorably viewed by 40 percent and the
Muslim brotherhood's by 31 percent.
The New National Party, successor to former president Hosni Mubarak's
National Democratic Party, surprises with 20 percent favorable.
The poll also concluded that US president Barack Obama is viewed favorably
by just 12 percent of Egyptians. Newly-named Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahri,
a native Egyptian, is rated positively by 11 percent of his compatriots, while
only 5percent of them are favorable to Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmedinejad.
The poll was conducted by Charney Research for the International Peace
Institute. It is based on 800 interviews conducted randomly between May 30 and
June 4.
The International Peace Institute is an independent, international think
tank located in New York and Vienna, dedicated to the settlement and
prevention of armed conflict. Roed-Larsen is also the UN Special envoy for the
implementation of resolution 1559 which called on foreign forces, mainly
Syrian, in 2004 to leave Lebanon. (end)
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