Kamal El-Shazly: another semi-divine politician down?

Earlier this year, Grand Imam of Egypt's Al-Azhar passed away while in Saudi Arabia. A week ago, Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak returned to Egypt after treatment in Germany triggering many questions and rumours regarding his health and well-being. Two days ago, it was Kamal El-Shazly's turn.

Kamal El-Shazly, one of the longest-serving parliamentarian in the world, is an NDP tycoon who served the Egyptian regime since its inception in the aftermath of the 1952 revolution. In his more recent history, El-Shazly served as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and is now the head of the Specialized National Councils, a body made of Committees that study and research socio-economic problems.

Anti-NDP activists and social movements repeatedly referred to Kamal El-Shazly and other long-serving, versatile political tycoons amongst the NDP's "Old Guard" as "ansaaf aliha" (semi-divine).

On Tuesday, 6 April 2010, Youm7 reported that El-Shazly arrived in Egypt after a long trip to the US during which he "underwent sensitive operations on his digestive system." According to the article, El-Shazly exited Cairo International Airport Hall 4 on a "chaise longue" accompanied by his wife and son. El-Shazly is expected to be back in the USA for further treatment within a month.

Kamal El-Shazly is considered one of the stronger people amongst the so-called "Old Guard" of the ruling NDP who are being challenged by a rising "New Guard" led by Gamal Mubarak and a group of business tycoons allied to President Mubarak's son.