It took several long minutes for the cheering and applause to die down, and then she began: “Members of the People’s Assembly and fellow Egyptians, with great pride and with your support and prayers, I gladly accept the National Democratic Party’s nomination for president, and on behalf of my husband, our late President Salaam, I announce that I am a candidate to be your president.”

The applause was back, even louder than before. Khalid al-Khan was stupefied. In just a few brief moments, he had gone from a close second in the election race, to the uncontested winner, to just another also-ran.

He could stand it no longer. He stood up, raised his hands, and said in a loud voice, “Hold! Hold!” The assemblymen weren’t responding, so Khan quickly stepped up on stage. “A point of order!”

The Speaker of the People’s Assembly hurried back to the dais. “Order!” he shouted. “Order!” Susan Salaam had stepped back away from the dais to allow al-Khan to speak. “Please let Ulama al-Khan speak!”

After the assembly had quieted down, mostly in rapt attention to the looming confrontation on stage, he said, “I am most grateful to God that Madame Salaam is alive and well. And I know that it warms our hearts and strengthens our souls for Madame Salaam to seek the same office as her dear husband, who certainly now sits at the right hand of Allah.” More applause, not for al-Khan or for Susan, but for Kamal Ismail Salaam, their slain president. How can he possibly fight a dead man? Only with the law—that’s all he had left.

“But if I am not mistaken, a candidate for president of Egypt must hold a seat either in the Supreme Judicial Council or the People’s Assembly,” al-Khan went on. “As much as we honor the memory of President Salaam, as much as it would gladden our hearts to see Madame Salaam once more in the presidential palace, she cannot run for president because she does not hold a national elective office.” He turned and bowed graciously to her. “I am sorry, my child, but it is the law.”

Finally, what appeared to be leaders of the various groups were getting together. More talking, more gesturing. Finally, several from the group of leaders began filtering up toward the speaker’s seat.

This didn’t look good at all. Al-Khan turned. His angry gaze caught the attention of the Speaker of the People’s Assembly, Representative Jamal Gazali, a member of the National Democratic Party coalition but also the leader of the Society of God, a smaller party representing the religious conservatives in Egypt. Gazali motioned al-Khan quickly to the podium. “What is happening here, Gazali?”

“It is of no consequence, Ulama,” Gazali replied. “The matter will be dealt with, and all will be taken care of.”

“I asked you what is happening, Gazali.”