Judge Mahmoud al-Khodairy, a Democratic Alliance figure who won the professional seat of Alexandria's second district, will most likely be nominated to head parliament, said a source within the Democratic Alliance, which is led by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).
The source, who requested anonymity, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the decision is based on the fact that Khodairy is a well respected public figure who can gain support from the majority of members of parliament.
"The FJP is considering the nomination of one of its leaders for the post of deputy speaker, and leaving the second deputy post to the other parliamentary forces, so the party does not control all key positions within the coming parliament," said the source.
“The party’s candidates for the position of deputy speaker include the party’s Vice President Essam al-Erian, and the party’s Secretary General Mohamed Saad al-Katatni,” said the source. The source added that Osama Yassin, Assistant Secretary General of the FJP, was also being considered for the post.
The source went on to say that this issue "will be decided following the end of the third round of elections." Erian is the Democratic Alliance’s top candidate in the North Giza constituency, in which the second round of elections will be held, while Katatni is its top candidate in the north Minya constituency, in which the third round of elections will be held.
Khodairy, the former deputy head of the Court of Cassation, did not confirm or deny the news. He told Al-Masry Al-Youm that he would accept the nomination, adding that the FJP’s nomination was another “honor” for which he would be indebted to them, given that they had already supported him during the first round of elections.
Meanwhile, Bassam al-Zarqa, a leader in the Salafi Nour Party, said his party supports the nomination of Khodeiry as “no one better has appeared among the other winners in the elections.”
Zarqa, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Khodairy "is not biased to any particular current, as he is neither a member of the Brotherhood nor a Salafi or a communist, and he has no problems with the Islamists, liberals or leftists.
“The party has confidence in his integrity," he said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
