Kamal al-Shazli, ex-Egyptian Party Boss, Dies

A longtime Egyptian political veteran has died almost on the eve of the Parliamentary elections. Kamal al-Shazli (Shazly) has been in Parliament since the Nasser era, was formerly a senior figure in the ruling National Democratic Party (and its predecessors, the Arab Socialist Union under Nasser and the Misr Party under Sadat), and represented his Delta constituency continously for 46 years.

In recent years he had been ailing, and had given up his leadership posts to members of the
"New Guard" aligned with Gamal Mubarak; he himself was considered part of the NDP "Old Guard," like Safwat al-Sharif and others. (Oddly, in recent days there had been rumors he had died, and he reportedly threatened to sue a rival candidate for spreading the story. Apparently now that suit won't be filed.)

Issandr El-Amrani has an appreciation here; there's an Arabic obituary here; and a look at the fact that since nominations are closed, the NDP may lose the seat.