Abdel Rahman al-Barr, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau, said his group is making preparations for both the electoral systems that will be used in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.
But Barr refused to give further details, saying discussing them now will spark controversy. He told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the group supports any election system that can realize the will of the nation. “All we care about is producing a parliament that reflects political powers, one that is moderate and balanced.”
Mahmoud Hussein, the Brotherhood’s secretary general, said the group is still committed to contesting 45-50 percent of parliamentary seats, as announced earlier this year.
Mohsen Radi, another Brotherhood leader, said it would be better if elections for two thirds – rather than one third – of seats were conducted according to the list-based candidacy system. Radi called on all political powers to pressure the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to implement an election system they agree on.
Karem Radwan, a member of the Brotherhood’s shura council, said the Brotherhood has made preparations for a single winner system, adding that mixing the single winner and the list-based candidacy systems requires special preparation. Radwan added that the group is cooperating with some Salafis, but thus far they have not coordinated efforts for the elections.
Meanwhile, Ali al-Salmi, a Wafd Party leader, said his party rejects the new law on electoral systems for the parliamentary poll, adding that a committee was formed to see how the law may be amended or replaced. He said that mixing the two systems is not fair because it is not clear how they will be implemented in different constituencies.
Mohamed Abul Ela, a leader from the Nasserist Party, said his party will not run in the election unless the unconditional list-based candidacy system is adopted for at least 50 percent of seats.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
