The heads and representatives of 30 political parties and a number of revolutionary youth groups on Sunday jointly rejected the Muslim Brotherhood’s domination over the political situation in Egypt.
The parties demanded the dissolution of the Brotherhood as a prerequisite for potentially supporting the group’s candidate, Mohamed Morsy, in a clear sign that the groups would support Ahmed Shafiq in the runoff round if their demands are not met.
Among their other demands are that Morsy keeps Egypt a civil state and distances himself from the Brotherhood, thus acting as a president for all Egyptians.
Banned under Mubarak, the Brotherhood is the largest political force in Egypt. After the removal of former President Hosni Mubarak from office early last year, the group established the Freedom and Justice Party. However, many observers believe that the Guidance Bureau, the Brotherhood's supreme authority, is in full control of the party, and by extension Morsy, its president. Many fear that if Morsy is elected, he will be subject to influence from influential members of the group, including Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie and senior adviser Khairat al-Shater.
The parties and groups also denounced the People's Assembly Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee’s Sunday approval of a draft law that would regulate the criteria to select members of the Constituent Assembly.
Democratic Peace Party head Ahmed al-Fadaly said the new constitution is a more important issue than the election of a new president.
Egyptian Revolution Party head Tareq Zeidan said governing Egypt should not left up to the Brotherhood, which could form a new form of dictatorship. He then expressed fear that the Brotherhood could gain control over the armed forces and police.
MP Moataz Mahmoud, head of the Freedom Party, which is mostly composed of former members of Mubarak's National Democratic Party, wondered what Morsy would do if the country’s interests conflicted with that of the Brotherhood.
Ali Fereij, head of the Arabs for Justice and Equality Party, which is formed by members of tribes in Matrouh and Fayoum governorates, said one of the remaining candidates should form a presidential council that includes the revolutionary youth.
Edited translation from MENA
