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opinion

It is a paradox of the Egyptian crisis that the emergency situation would greatly diminish if the Emergency Law first enacted in 1958, which has been almost continuously in effect since 1967, is repealed. That would permit ordinary freedom of association: the formation of non-governmental organizations and new political parties, and the reactivation of parties that exist, but have been suppressed.

There is no need, however, for major changes in government personnel, at high or low levels - at least not before the scheduled presidential election in September. Hosni Mubarak, the President, was reckless not to have named a vice-president until Saturday. But by virtue of that office, he himself succeeded Anwar al-Sadat when Sadat was assassinated in 1981. At last, a gap in the constitutional order has been filled. For all its flaws, that order provides some valuable underpinnings for a transition to liberal democracy.

Meanwhile, the police should resume normal policing forthwith, so that citizens and businesses are secure. The flow of electronic communications - from routine banking transactions to online political discussions - should no longer be interfered with.

Mr. Mubarak, now 82 years old, should not run for re-election, but stand aside in favour of one of his colleagues. Omar Suleiman, the new Vice-President, is not much younger than Mr. Mubarak, but he has prudence and deep experience in foreign policy, notably in the difficult relationships with Israel and Gaza. As for the new Prime Minister, Ahmed Shafiq, there is reason to believe that he actively opposed corruption, in his previous portfolio as minister of civil aviation. Both should be considered as the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Party, the regime's political wing - in an election that is also open to other candidates.

Decades of state-imposed obstacles to civil-society groups have unintentionally favoured religious organizations, some of them hostile to secular politics. Before there is another parliamentary election, some time is needed for a new spectrum of political parties to take shape. Mr. Suleiman's declared intention on Monday to include other parties in a dialogue about constitutional and legislative reform is a promising start.

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