The Salafi-oriented Nour Party plans to hold daily rallies starting Tuesday in different Egyptian governorates to support Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh in the presidential election slated for 23 and 24 of this month, according to the party’s spokesperson.
Nader Bakkar wrote on Twitter that he plans to take part in five events supporting Abouel Fotouh’s bid, adding that a gala celebration will be held next Friday.
“Abouel Fotouh is a candidate for all Egyptians,” Bakkar said. “We chose him because he can bring stability to this country.”
Bakkar also said he would join other activists backing Abouel Fotouh on Tuesday at Al-Azhar Conference Center in Nasr City.
Prominent political activist Wael Ghonim is expected to participate in the conference. Last month, Ghonim announced his support for Abouel Fotouh, saying he would be “a president for all Egyptians who will gather people, not divide them.”
Abouel Fotouh, a former Muslim Brotherhood leader, has managed to win the backing of a heterogeneous mix of Egyptian political forces due to his moderate Islamist views. The declaration by Nour Party and other ultraconservative Salafi groups of their support for Abouel Fotouh has infuriated the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s largest political group, which had eyed Salafi support for its own candidate, Mohamed Morsy.
Abouel Fotouh was sacked from the Brotherhood last year after violating the group’s now-reversed ban on competing in the presidential election. Many young Brotherhood members have supported Abouel Fotouh in spite of his departure from the group.
Last week, Abouel Fotouh and former Arab League chief Amr Moussa took part in Egypt’s first televised presidential debate.
