Feminist Cancels Plan to Run for Presidency

Egyptian feminist author Nawal Saadawi said she was pulling out of September’s presidential election because a recent constitutional amendment sets restrictions that make the emergence of viable candidates impossible.

Saadawi, 73, decided last year to challenge President Hosni Mubarak, who is widely expected to seek a fifth term. But under rules set in May she would need endorsements from 65 of the 444 elected members of the lower house of parliament, 90% of whom are from the ruling party.

“No real change has taken place,” she said.

Mubarak, 77, has been in power since 1981.