Archive for political groups

Astrologer: Islamists’ parliamentary presence to shrink in next election

by admin
December 25th, 2012

LUXOR — A well-known Upper Egyptian astrologer has predicted a change in the political tide in favor of liberal political groups, at the expense of Islamists.         



Sayyed Mohamed Ali told the German news agency DPA that the number of Islamist representatives in the next People’s Assembly will decrease while liberal groups, such as the Wafd Party and the National Salvation Front, will make electoral and political gains in collaboration with revolutionary groups.



Ali even foresees President Mohamed Morsy facing serious problems, which would end with the army’s intervention to maintain order.



He said he predicts a new worldwide war in 2013 and 2014, with the Middle East as its epicenter.



Ali also said the UN Security Council will see a change in its system, working with more resistance to US double-standard policies. He, however, predicted that the international organization would move toward collapse by early 2014.



Other prophecies for 2013 include more hurricanes in the United States, a devastating earthquake in Japan, volcanic eruptions in Iran, floods in Egypt and Sudan, and a change in the Syrian regime.

 

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Al-Azhar meets to resolve political crisis over Morsy declaration

by admin
December 3rd, 2012

The grand sheikh of Al-Azhar held a meeting to discuss ways to resolve the current political crisis stemming from President Mohamed Morsy’s 22 November constitutional declaration, which made his decrees immune to judicial review.

Grand Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyeb convened with Constituent Assembly Chairperson Hossam al-Gheriany as well as other assembly members, including Arabic Language Academy head Hassan al-Shafie, Islamic thinker Mohamed Selim al-Awa and Tayyeb’s adviser, Mohamed Abdel Salam.

Participants in the meeting at Tayyeb’s office agreed to introduce an initiative aiming to unite different political groups currently at odds with one another.

Tayyeb has said contacts are being made with all political players to enact the initiative as soon as possible.

Morsy’s decree sparked nationwide protests opposing and supporting the declaration. Criticism of Morsy increased when he called for a referendum on 15 December on the draft constitution, after Gheriany handed it to him Saturday despite the withdrawal of many assembly members representing different political, social and professional groups.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Spokesperson: Morsy has plan to secure Egypt ahead of referendum

by admin
December 2nd, 2012

President Mohamed Morsy has offered all political groups an initiative to discuss how to secure the country in the next two weeks preceding a constitutional referendum vote, a presidential spokesperson said in a telephone interview with state TV on Sunday.

Spokesperson Yasser Ali said the transitional period would end in 13 days, after a referendum on the constitution is conducted. He said people should not fear the president misusing his power, and called on all political forces to preserve the overarching interests of the nation.

He noted that Morsy met with the Supreme Judicial Council and all heads of Egypt’s judicial bodies three times over the past five months to reassure them of his respect for the judiciary.

Vice President Mahmoud Mekky explained that the judiciary’s concerns were the result of confusion or misunderstanding some provisions contained in the 22 November constitutional declaration, which the judges felt were directly aimed at them, Ali said.

“The president told them [the provisions] were not addressed to them,” Ali said, adding, “[Morsy] was arrested in 2006 for seven months because he supported the independent judiciary movement.”



“If people approve the new constitution, all other constitutional declarations since 19 March will be void,” he added.

Edited translation from MENA

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‘Some’ want to drag police into bloodshed, says interior minister

by admin
November 25th, 2012

The police are handling rioters around Tahrir Square in accordance with the law, the interior minister said Sunday, calling on the media and political groups to go to the streets and see this for themselves.

Interior Minister Ahmed Gamal Eddin said his ministry respects peaceful demonstrations. “Yet some try to drive a wedge between the police and the demonstrators,” he said.

“The security forces in Tahrir Square carry no [live ammunition],” he added. “They only have shields, helmets, water [cannons] and teargas.”

“I ordered [the police] to only confront those who try to destroy public property,” Gamal Eddin said, explaining that the teargas being fired on Qasr al-Aini Street is blocking protesters from breaking into the Shura Council.

“The police will never fight the demonstrators,” he said, and called on all political forces to coordinate with the ministry to contain the events in Tahrir Square.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Experts fear political unrest could deal further economic blows

by admin
November 25th, 2012

Economic experts and investors have warned that Egypt’s ongoing political instability could harm the still-fragile economy, warning that economic indicators do not have the strength to withstand the fallout from recent protests and events.

Federation of Chambers of Commerce head Ahmed al-Wakil said that the instability could result in a halt to new foreign investment.

 “We were hoping to enter into the stage of political stability as quickly as possible,” he said. “Our economy no longer has the ability to withstand this turbulent situation.”

Hamdi al-Najjar, head of the General Division for Importers, said that the current unrest could force shipping, aviation and insurance companies to raise transportation expenses for Egyptian companies as a result of the increased business risks.

He added that many Egyptian banks and insurance companies have seen their credit ratings cut, as a result of recent political turmoil, saying that a return to stability would also lead to positive economic indicators.

On the other hand, Pasant Fahmi, a banking expert and former adviser of Al-Baraka Bank, said that the developments on the political scene also have positive aspects, including the unity of the opposition, after frequent disputes had erupted between various political groups and factions, of which she counted more than 27.

Such a situation brings the country closer to democratization, she said, adding that it is unlikely that recent developments would negatively affect credit ratings.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Economic experts fear political unrest could deal further economic blows

by admin
November 24th, 2012

 

Economic experts and investors have warned that Egypt’s ongoing political instability could harm the still-fragile economy, warning that economic indicators do not have the strength to withstand the fallout from recent protests and events.

Federation of Chambers of Commerce head Ahmed al-Wakil said that the instability could result in a halt to new foreign investment.

 “We were hoping to enter into the stage of political stability as quickly as possible,” he said. “Our economy no longer has the ability to withstand this turbulent situation.”

Hamdi al-Najjar, head of the General Division for Importers, said that the current unrest could force shipping, aviation and insurance companies to raise transportation expenses for Egyptian companies as a result of the increased business risks.

He added that many Egyptian banks and insurance companies have seen their credit ratings cut, as a result of recent political turmoil, saying that a return to stability would also lead to positive economic indicators.

On the other hand, Pasant Fahmi, a banking expert and former adviser of Al-Baraka Bank, said that the developments on the political scene also have positive aspects, including the unity of the opposition, after frequent disputes had erupted between various political groups and factions, of which she counted more than 27.

Such a situation brings the country closer to democratization, she said, adding that it is unlikely that recent developments would negatively affect credit ratings.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Demonstrators besiege police station in Mahalla

by admin
November 20th, 2012

Members of youth and political groups in the city of Mahalla in the Nile Delta governorate of Gharbiya besieged a police station on Tuesday evening, chanting slogans denouncing the Interior Ministry and the Muslim Brotherhood and demanding the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsy and retribution for victims of the Mohamed Mahmoud Street violence.

They also demanded the dismissal of Hesham Qandil’s Cabinet and bring to trial those responsible for the Assiut train accident that killed over 50 children on Saturday. They said they would continue to demonstrate until their demands are met, and warned President Morsy of a revolution that would topple him.

Clashes broke out in downtown Cairo Monday evening after security forces used tear gas to disperse protesters and prevent them from approaching the Interior Ministry.

The clashes came during a rally marking the first anniversary of the Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes in November 2011, during which over 40 people were killed after police and security forces forcibly cleared Tahrir Square of protesters demonstrating against the then-ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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50 political groups to mark Mohamed Mahmoud clashes anniversary

by admin
November 19th, 2012

Fifty political groups have announced their participation in protests commemorating the clashes between police and protesters in Mohamed Mahmoud Street near the Interior Ministry last November, which left nearly 40 dead and hundreds injured.

Police outside the ministry had been put on alert Monday morning in anticipation of the protests. Central Security Forces and army reinforcements have been deployed in the area.

The clashes erupted on 19 November last year when police forces forcibly cleared Cairo’s Tahrir Square of protesting relatives of victims killed during the 25 January revolution earlier that year.

In a statement Monday, participating groups said the event “aims to glorify the heroes of Mohamed Mahmoud by informing the common citizens of the reality behind the incidents, which helped change the course of the revolution, and also to correct the wrong information given to citizens by the [then-ruling] Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and other political forces.”

The statement said the revolutionary protesters had their image distorted and had been forsaken during the incidents.

“They proved resilient over five consecutive days in face of brutality and treason,” the statement said.

The groups said the revolution would “proceed to seek its goals of freedom, dignity, independence, social justice and retribution for the martyrs.”

Signatories to the statement included the Popular Current, the Socialist Popular Alliance, the April 6 Youth Movement and the Constitution Party.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement on its Facebook page Monday that it had not yet received any request for permission to stage demonstrations marking the Mohamed Mahmoud Street clashes.

The law requires protesters to submit a request to the ministry revealing the timing, the course of demonstrations and its organizers to as a safeguard against “disturbing public safety.”

The ministry said Sunday it had detected calls instigating protesters against policemen and security facilities during the planned event, and added that it took necessary measures to identify perpetrators.

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Update: Political groups stage march against IMF loan

by admin
November 12th, 2012

A number of political groups staged a march Monday evening from the Egyptian Stock Exchange building in downtown Cairo to the Cabinet building to voice their opposition to the US$4.2 million loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Participants included members of the Karama Party, the Strong Egypt Party, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, Kefaya, and others.

Former presidential candidate and rights activist Khaled Ali said the march aims to make citizens aware of the negative consequences of the loan, including raising the foreign debt by 50 percent and increasing allocations in the state budget to pay off the loan, which would affect subsidies, services and prices.

He added that the participants in the march reject the loan without community dialogue and an alternative economic plan to provide the necessary financial resources.

Ali warned of the lack of transparency regarding the IMF’s conditions and that the government would repay the loan from citizens’ pockets, noting that it would raise gas, water and electricity prices.

Participants in the march also demand that Prime Minister Hesham Qandil rationalize government spending as an alternative to foreign borrowing, lift energy subsidies to factories, and levy taxes on capital gains in the stock market to bridge the deficit.

Human rights organizations, political movements and trade unions had on Monday asked the prime minister to freeze loan negotiations with the IMF.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights, the Popular Current and the Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions said the negotiations are not transparent, nor is the government’s economic reform program.

They also said holding negotiations and making agreements without a parliament in place, while President Mohamed Morsy has legislative authority, violates the democratic principles of separation of powers and constitutional supervision of executive decisions.

They added that the government did not consult all civilian groups and political forces about the loan, which makes any feedback it received not representative of the whole Egyptian society.

The IMF had demanded total social consensus over the loan, especially as the austerity measures associated with it, such as the reduction of subsidies, could threaten the basic economic and social rights of the Egyptian people.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Salafi leader accuses Brotherhood of hindering the application of Sharia

by admin
November 6th, 2012

A high-profile spokesperson for the Salafi Dawah, the parent organization of the Nour Party, accused the Muslim Brotherhood of opposing the explicit stipulation of Sharia as the main source of legislation in the constitution at a seminar Tuesday.

Abdel Moneim al-Shahat stressed that the organization will not remain silent towards political groups in the Constituent Assembly that he said have been struggling to prevent the application of Islamic Law in the constitution during a seminar at a students hostel in Smouha, Alexandria.

Article 2 of the 1971 constitution, which remains unchanged in the draft of the new constitution issued in October, stipulates that the principles of Sharia are the main source of legislation. The article has been the subject of heated debate over the drafting process, with Salafis wanting the word “principles” omitted. Secular groups and the Brotherhood wish to keep the original phrasing.

Salafis had called for staging protests on 9 November to push for the adoption of wording in Article 2 that clearly calls for Sharia.

Shahat rejected the Brotherhood’s suggestions to apply Sharia gradually. He said the organization will lobby all Muslims who are protective of their faith to press for that demand.

He stressed that Salafis should not boycott the next parliamentary elections.

“Despite the negative aspects of Salafi representation in the last Parliament, it was that representation that allowed them to be present at the Constituent Assembly and press for Sharia,” he said.

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