It’s all about spirit in Thursday’s newspapers, namely the spirit of revolution, which apparently has been lost and will now be restored, according to the state-owned Al-Ahram.
And how is that being done? By gathering disparate political forces to foster unity, something Egypt frequently tries to do through conferences.
This was the “National Meeting” that was held at Al-Azhar, and ostensibly was to champion what is known as the Al-Azhar Freedoms Document, which aims to ensure the transfer of power from the military to civilian rule and end military trials for civilians. Attendees included Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri, Pope Shenouda of the Coptic Church and presidential candidates Amr Moussa and Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh.
Unlike Al-Ahram, the privately owned Al-Tahrir sheds light on the fact that Shenouda was sitting right across from Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohamed Badie, who was also in attendance. There is a picture of the two addressing each other and smiling.
Waxing lyrical about the statement that came out of the meeting, state-owned Al-Akhbar continues in a similar vein. It calls for maintaining the spirit of Tahrir Square during the 18 days that saw the ouster of Mubarak and respecting the results of the parliamentary elections which saw a sweeping victory for Islamist parties.
And even though Al-Azhar calls for the military to return to its barracks, Al-Akhbar details military plans for celebrating the first anniversary of 25 January. Field Marshall Tantawi has declared it to be a national holiday, and there are two artistic and cultural celebrations, as well as military air and sea parades to commemorate the 18-day uprising.
And while Egypt celebrates the revolution, revolutionaries are at the Public Prosecutor’s office for interrogation according to Youm7 newspaper. Well almost, as the public prosecutor has decided to delay investigations with activist Nawara Negm and Omar Makram Mosque’s Imam, Mazhar Shahin, until Sunday. Trouble ensued outside the office after the defendants’ lawyers were prevented from entering.
Both Negm and Shahin stand accused of paying “thugs” to attack military personnel and burn the Institut d’Egypte during the cabinet clashes that occurred in December and which left 14 people dead, all protesters. Maybe Negm and Shahin should ask for their money back.
They aren’t the only ones being accused of this. Earlier, Ghad party leader Ayman Nour was taken in for questioning but released without bail. However, he is not allowed to travel outside Egypt.
Privately owned Al-Shorouk features a front-page story about Tantawi and parliament. Tantawi will give a speech on the opening session of the People’s Assembly, the lower house of parliament, on 23 January. Traditionally, Mubarak used to give a speech during the joint opening session of the People’s Assembly and the Shura Council, the upper house. However, the newspaper reports that Tantawi wants to break with the Mubarak tradition and address the nation before the 25 January anniversary. Sources tell the paper that Tantawi will reiterate that the armed forces protected the revolution and that parliament will have full powers to perform its duties.
The daily Al-Tahrir reports on a possible secret alliance among parties in parliament to counter-balance the Muslim Brotherhood majority. The newspaper claims that a secret meeting was held at the Wasat Party and included representatives from the Wafd Party, Nour Party and the Egyptian Bloc. These four are the biggest parties and alliances in the assembly after the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP).
In essence, there seems to be a movement to create an alliance that would form a majority in parliament against the FJP. Whether such an alliance is possible remains to be seen.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhurriya: Daily, state-run
Rose al-Youssef: Daily, state-run
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Youm7: Daily, privately owned
Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned
Freedom and Justice: Daily, published by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
Sawt al-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Nasserist Party
Al-Nour: Official paper of the Salafi Nour Party
