Two Islamist politicians have commented on reform advocate Mohamed ElBaradei's decision to withdraw from Egypt’s presidential race.
On Saturday, ElBaradei, a Nobel laureate and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, announced that he will not run for president.
In a statement, ElBaradei said the conditions for a fair election are not in place and denounced what he called the military's failure to put the country on the path to democracy. His move sparked controversy on the political scene and is predicted to disappoint his backers.
Saad al-Katatny, secretary general of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, described ElBaradei as “short-winded,” adding that Egyptians should celebrate the first anniversary of the Egyptian revolution on 25 January. He said that the revolution has made significant achievements, including the recent parliamentary elections.
“No one can question ElBaradei’s patriotism,” Katatny told television presenter Mahmoud Saad on Al-Nahar channel on Saturday. “He contributed to political mobility after he returned from abroad. His withdrawal statement voiced a belief that the country’s rulers have not met expectations. I wish he had greater perseverance, but we have to respect his choice.”
Katatny claimed that ElBaradei communicated with him from Vienna during the early days of the revolution. “He called me on 27 January, and I told him if he did not return to Egypt he will miss the revolution."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Salafi Nour Party, Nader Bakar, said ElBaradei’s move came as a reaction to Islamist groups’ electoral success.
“We hope God will help him find success in another field where he can serve his country. He should try his luck in something different,” Bakar told Mehwar, a satellite channel, late Saturday.
