Tuesday’s newspapers focus their coverage on three chief developments: a million-person protest for a “Revolutionary Trial” to be held in Tahrir and other squares; Hosni Mubarak’s prison tales and reports of his imminent relocation to another hospital; and political deliberations with Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy regarding the establishment of a caretaker presidential council.
“Resumption of million-man marches today in Egypt’s liberation squares — under Islamist leadership,” reads a headline in independent Al-Shorouk newspaper. The article says these massive protests are being organized primarily by the Brotherhood and its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, along with the Salafi-oriented Nour Party and Jama’a al-Islamiya’s Construction and Development Party. The article also mentions that the liberal Wafd Party and social democratic-oriented Tagammu Party have announced they will not partake in the protests.
In state-owned Al-Akhbar: “Mohamed Morsy, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh call for a million-man march today.” The article mentions that the three non-Mubarak regime presidential candidates who placed highest in the presidential election’s first round, along with other political and revolutionary forces, are compiling demands for the “Revolutionary Trial” million-man march.
These protests will demand revolutionary retrials for Mubarak and his two sons, along with former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly and six of his top deputies. They will also call for the dismissal of the public prosecutor.
A headline in the Freedom and Justice paper reads: “Against the re-establishment of the ousted regime, Brotherhood participates in today’s million-man march.” In an unsubstantiated over-generalization of a headline, the FJP paper claims that “the families of those martyred in the 25 January revolution have delegated to Morsy the responsibility of getting justice and retribution for their dead children.”
In independent Al-Dostour newspaper: “Morsy attempts to capitalize on the blood of the martyrs to reach the presidency … while revolutionaries see through his opportunistic ploys.” Al-Dostour, which has been openly supporting the candidacy of Ahmed Shafiq — Mubarak’s last prime minister — claims that the Brotherhood is seeking to monopolize its grip on the Egyptian state and establish itself as the new ruling party. The paper argues that it would be impossible to dethrone the Brotherhood if it captures the presidency, as its members control the legislature through the upper and lower houses of Parliament, the executive branch through the presidency and Cabinet, and will dominate the forthcoming Constituent Assembly, which will allow them to tailor a new constitution that fits their interests.
An opinion column written by political activist Mamdouh Hamza in state-run Al-Akhbar claims that “the Muslim Brotherhood’s participation in street protests and marches to Tahrir Square are being organized as a campaign for Mohamed Morsy’s presidency” — not for the sake of realizing justice in the Mubarak trial outcome, rescuing the revolution, or realizing its aims and demands.
Beyond the million-man march, three presidential hopefuls have been discussing and deliberating the establishment of an interim presidential council. However, the Brotherhood’s Morsy does not appear inclined to accept such a proposal.
“Tripartite negotiations fail to reach an agreement regarding the presidential council,” reads a headline in Al-Akhbar. The paper also mentions that the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has rejected the idea.
Al-Akhbar quotes three unsuccessful presidential candidates —Nasserist Sabbahi, moderate Islamist Abouel Fotouh, and leftist Khaled Ali — as saying: “We don’t recognize the results of the first round of the presidential election,” which was held on 23 and 24 May.
A headline in Freedom and Justice reads: “Say: Presidential institution, not presidential council.” Brushing off the idea of an interim presidential council, another headline in the Brotherhood mouthpiece reads: “Morsy, Abouel Fotouh and Sabbahi: Our meetings continue for the sake of realizing the revolution’s goals.” This article mentions that appeals filed against “electoral irregularities in the first round of the election do not warrant its cancellation.”
In the independent Al-Watan newspaper: “Failure of negotiations — between Morsy, Abouel Fotouh and Sabbahi — for a presidential team.” The article mentions that Morsy has turned down the idea of a presidential council and is flirting with the idea of appointing the losing two candidates as his vice presidents instead.
As for the ousted president, Hosni Mubarak’s prison life is capturing headlines in numerous papers. After being sentenced to life in prison on 2 June, the 84-year-old fallen dictator has been relocated from a state-of-the-art hospital near the Red Sea to Mazraet Tora Prison in southern Cairo.
Liberal opposition paper Al-Wafd runs the headline: “Family visit to Mubarak, the inmate.” The article mentions that on Monday, Mubarak and his two sons — Alaa and Gamal — received prison visits from their wives — Suzanne Mubarak, Heidi Rasekh and Khadiga el-Gammal, respectively.
Al-Shorouk writes: “Tora Prison unites Mubarak with his family and leading figures from his old regime.” The article mentions that Suzanne Mubarak delivered blue prison clothes (with blue signifying that a detainee has been sentenced and is serving his term in prison) to the ousted dictator. The article mentions that deposed officials are keeping Mubarak company in his detention facility. It also says that prison guards have been denying Mubarak and others access to mobile phones, computers or other communication devices.
Egypt’s papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Watan: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Youm7: Daily, privately owned
Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned
Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party
Al-Nour: Official paper of the Salafi Nour Party
