Al-Sayed al-Badawy, leader of the opposition Wafd Party, has accepted a recommendation by the party's executive board to allow Ibrahim Eissa, former chief editor of independent daily Al-Dostour, to write for the party’s daily newspaper, Al-Wafd.
Earlier this month, al-Badawy purchased the paper, sacking Eissa soon afterward. At the time, al-Badawy was accused in certain political circles of having made a deal with the ruling National Democratic Party to silence Eissa, who is widely known for his vocal criticisms of the government.
Al-Badawy has also reportedly agreed to allow Eissa to host a political talk show on the Al-Hayat satellite television channel, of which he is also the owner.
“This latest move proves that al-Badawy’s earlier decision to sack Eissa had been for purely professional–not personal–reasons,” said Wafd Party member Mostafa al-Guindi.
In related news, Journalists Syndicate President Makram Mohamed Ahmed on Wednesday urged Al-Dostour reporters to maintain their weeks-long strike. “I will personally join them if the paper's new owner moves to dismiss any of them,” said Ahmed.
Striking reporters are demanding that Al-Dostour's new owner refrain from altering the paper's traditional editorial policy. They also demand salary increases of between 100 and 250 percent.
It was reported that the paper's new board manager, Reda Edward, had agreed to journalists' demands. Edward was later quoted as saying, however, that he would only raise salaries by a maximum of 100 percent.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
