CAIRO — Nobel Peace Prize winner and former United Nations nuclear chief Mohamed ElBaradei is shaking up Cairo’s entrenched political elite by eyeing a run for the presidency of this authoritarian state.
Hundreds of Egyptians chanting “We want change!” welcomed ElBaradei at Cairo’s airport Friday as the former head of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency returned to Egypt for the first time since leaving his U.N. post.
As arguably Egypt’s best-known international public face, ElBaradei represents the stiffest challenge yet to President Hosni Mubarak, 81, who has been at the helm of the Arab world’s most populous country for the past 28 years.
Most Egyptians expect Mubarak’s son, Gamal, to “inherit” the presidency. The government has conducted a series of well-documented political manipulations that all but assure the younger Mubarak the seat while excluding any serious challengers.
Opposition newspapers and activists, however, are urging ElBaradei to run, painting him as the symbol of hope for democratic change.
“Oh, Baradei, we want change, we want a new constitution, long live Egypt!” chanted an estimated 400 people who greeted the diplomat at the main airport in Cairo.
Prominent academics and writers mingled with ordinary Egyptians at the rally, which, though small, entailed great risk for participants in a country where activists and dissidents are monitored — and often intimidated or imprisoned.
Current electoral rules prohibit ElBaradei from running because he is not a member of a political party.
Some political analysts speculate that the Egyptian government will offer ElBaradei a consolation post such as foreign minister or prime minister as a way to contain him and weaken his popularity.
Leaders of the ruling National Democratic Party repeatedly have said there will be no change to the constitution ahead of elections.
Parliamentary elections are to be held at the end of this year, followed by presidential elections in 2011.
