Archive for political parties

Former VP: NSF will participate in next round of national dialogue

by admin
January 1st, 2013

Former Vice President Mahmoud Mekky said Tuesday that eight representative of the National Salvation Front (NSF) will participate in the next round of the national dialogue.

Presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali had said earlier that the seventh round of the dialogue is set for 9 January, and will discuss amendments to provisions of the new constitution proposed by various political parties, movements, public figures, unions, associations and universities. The discussions are set to be a prelude to a document that will be presented to the president, who will then forward it to the incoming parliament for discussion in its first session.

Saturday is the deadline for accepting suggestions for changes, Ali added.

The NSF announced Monday its readiness for dialogue with the presidency.

“We assured the mediation committee [formed by the presidency] that we are ready for dialogue with the presidency immediately to set rules and an agenda. We submitted names of [our] representatives and informed the mediators as well as Mekky, who said he would respond to the request. However, we have received no response so far,” NSF member Wahid Abdel Meguid said.

Mekky said he will voluntarily moderate the dialogue, even though he resigned from his post in December, in a bid to reach a genuine reconciliation between all political forces. “I feel it is a fruitful dialogue,” he said. “We would not have come up with the elections law without it.”

“I will continue to invite all forces boycotting the dialogue,” he added, and “we took their remarks into consideration even though they did not attend."

President Mohamed Morsy's controversial constitutional declaration, through which he claimed sweeping powers, spurring mass protests and violent confrontations, was  later revoked. The NSF itself was born out of a complete rejection of Morsy's decisions, and united opposition and civil forces under one entity.

Mekky says the cancellation of the declaration was achieved through the dialogue, "something blood could not have done."

The NSF had not participated in these talks, and had continued its protests even after the declaration was cancelled, in protest of the rushed approval of the draft constitution as well as the snap referendum announced by Morsy.  

"We also agreed to suggestions for the Shura Council appointments," he added.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Morsy calls on parties to participate in national dialogue and discuss parliament election law

by admin
December 29th, 2012

President Mohamed Morsy reiterated his call to all parties to join the national dialogue he has sponsored, and through this dialogue and the Shura Council to discuss the election law for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

He said all points of view should be expressed so that the will of the people is realized and to assure the impartiality and fairness of the elections.

Morsy added, in a televised speech to the Shura Council on Saturday, that the aim of the dialogue and discussion is that the House of Representatives applies Article 5 of the Constitution which states that the sovereignty is for the people alone and that they will safeguard national unity.

Addressing members of the Shura Council, Morsy said, “you now have assumed full power to legislate until the new Council of Representatives convenes. I invite you to work hard, cooperate with the government and discuss with all political parties and forces and community agencies to issue the necessary legislation, motivated by the necessity of excellence and the pursuit of perfection.”

“Your honored Council became for the first time in the Second Republic a participant in legislation, now it fully exercises legislation. After the election of the new House of Representatives, it [the Shura Counil] will participate in the power of legislation, choose the heads of independent bodies, and develop plans for the work of these bodies, and have the responsibility to monitor the executive authority.”

The president expressed his confidence that that Egyptian people will exercise their right to vote in the next House of Representatives election under the supervision of the judiciary. He said it will the first time that the lower chamber of Parliament is a partner in choosing the government, as well as monitoring its performance.

Citing corruption, lack of accountability and unfair economic policies, Morsy blamed the former regime for some of the challenges Egypt is currently facing.

Morsy went on to say that since the first meeting of the current government in August, they have been working on urgent rescue plan to combat poverty, address corruption, and achieve an equitable balance in the distribution of tax burdens.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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National Rescue Front submits draft law to Morsy

by admin
December 28th, 2012

The National Salvation Front has submitted a draft law on the exercising of political rights to President Mohamed Morsy.

Front member Abdel Ghaffar Shokr told Al-Masry Al-Youm on Thursday that the group submitted the draft law almost a week ago to Pakinam al-Sharqawy, the presidential assistant for political affairs, after turning down outgoing Vice President Mahmoud Mekkiy’s invitation to a national dialogue.

Freedom and Justice Party member and former Shura Council majority leader Ali Fath al-Bab took part in drafting the law four years ago, Shokr said. The committee that drafted the law included experts including Abdel Moneim al-Mashat and Ali al-Sawy, political science professor Negad al-Borai, activists and representatives of civil society organizations.

According to the draft law, the High Elections Commission would have powers to guarantee international standards of integrity for elections. Nine judges would serve on the commission for three years and would not be able to take any other posts during their term. The commission would also divide electoral districts according to population, and would review the distribution periodically.

The draft law also stipulates that governmental authorities would not be allowed to supervise elections. Employees would receive special training in running elections, and representatives from different political parties and civil society organizations would be trained in elections monitoring.

The interior minister would also be tasked with delegating the required number of police officers to secure polling stations, working under the supervision of the commission. The officers would be given orders by the commission head or deputies.

Elections should employee the party list system, the draft law holds. At least one woman should be included among the first four candidates listed per party, and a minimum of two women must be included in the first eight candidates listed.

Article 231 of the recently adopted Constitution mandates that in the upcoming parliamentary elections, two thirds of all seats will be voted in via the list-based system, and one third via the individual candidate system. Parties and independents are both allowed to run in elections.

The draft law also stipulates a minimum age of 21 years to run for municipal councils, 25 years for the House of Representatives and 35 years for the Shura Council. All candidates would also be required to meet defined educational requirements.

The draft law bans use of religious slogans during electoral campaigns. It also bans offering aid to build, restore or expand places of worship and social centers. If this rule is violated, two thirds of the electoral commission would be required to agree to drop the candidate from the ballot. The candidate would have the right to contest that decision.

President Mohamed Morsy is expected to ratify the draft law so that the Shura Council can vote on it.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Morsy approves Shura Council appointees

by admin
December 21st, 2012

President Mohamed Morsy signed off on Friday a list of appointments of 90 public figures to the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament, the state news agency MENA reported. 

Al-Masry Al-Youm learned that the list includes members of 17 political parties, representatives from Al-Azhar and three churches, as well as tribal sheikhs from Sinai, artists and athletes. Independent political and judicial figures, and trade unionists are also represented in the list. 

Sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that 75 percent of the list represent non Islamist figures. 

Meanwhile, Salafi Nour Party spokesperson Nader Bakkar denied that he was appointed, while activist Gameela Ismail said she declined the appointment. 

Al-Ahram state-run website reported that the Muslim Brotherhood's Essam al-Erian is among the appointees. 

If the current constitutional draft passes through the referendum, the second phase of which will be held on Saturday, the Shura Council will be handed over the power of legislation until parliament is elected. The lower house of parliament was dissolved earlier by a court ruling, when the Supreme Constitutional Court found that the law governing the house's elections unconstitutional. 

With the appointments, the Shura Council will be composed of 279 members, a third of whom are appointed by the president.

The Shura Council is currently controlled by Islamists. In February 180 members were elected, while the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces declined to appoint the remaining 90 members during the transitional period before Morsy took office.

Morsy pledged that the Shura Council appointments will be representative of all political forces, as a means to put an end to the on-going deadlock between Islamist forces and their opposition over the constitutional draft. 

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National Salvation Front rejects invite to debate on constitution

by admin
December 20th, 2012

The National Salvation Front turned down an invitation for a debate between five members of the front and five members of the Constituent Assembly.

The invitation was issued by Mohamed al-Beltagy, Constituent Assembly spokesperson and secretary of the Freedom and Justice Party.

Amr Moussa, a member of the front, said that he did not think a debate was needed, but rather an acknowledgement that there is no national consensus on the draft constitution. He wondered why the assembly was calling for a debate now, after the first round of voting in the constitutional referendum has already taken place, and shortly before the second round is scheduled to begin on Saturday.

The National Salvation Front is a group of opposition political parties and civil forces that reject the draft constitution and demand a new Constituent Assembly that is not controlled by Islamist parties.

Preliminary results after the first phase of the referendum indicate that 57 percent of voters have approved the draft, while 43 percent voted against it.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Morsy to receive nominees for Shura Council on Friday

by admin
December 20th, 2012

The National Dialogue Committee (NDC) has completed its final list of nominations for the Shura Council and plans to present it to President Mohamed Morsy on Friday.

The NDC was formed by the president in an attempt to appease political forces who oppose the draft constitution, and to bridge differences across the parties in the future of the political process.

According to the law, the nominations must be announced before the result of the constitutional referendum, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The president must appoint the 90 members to the upper house of Parliament within hours after receiving the list.

The second and final round of the referendum is scheduled for Saturday 22 December. If the draft is approved, legislative powers would be transferred from the president to the Shura Council until the People’s Assembly is elected.

The Shura Council will be composed of 279 members, a third of whom are to be appointed by the president.

The Shura Council is currently controlled by Islamists. In February 180 members were elected, while the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces declined to appoint the remaining 90 members during the transitional period before Morsy took office.

Members of the National Salvation Front were not nominated, the sources said, because Popular Front leader Hamdeen Sabbahi, Constitution Party leader Mohamed ElBaradei and Egyptian Congress Party leader Amr Moussa refused to be nominated or suggest others.

Nominees include Islamic preacher and Party of Egypt leader Amr Khaled and Ghad al-Thawra Party leader Ayman Nour. Also on the list are Gamal Gibril, the head of the Constituent Assembly’s political systems committee, and eight representatives of Egypt’s three churches.

Farid Ismail of the Freedom and Justice Party said the National Salvation Front is fostering political divisions by refusing to work with other political parties.

The NDC has allocated 55 seats in the council for political parties, 35 seats for public figures, eight seats for the Orthodox, Catholic and Anglican churches, five seats for Al-Azhar, 15 seats for the Freedom and Justice Party, nine seats for the Wasat Party, seven seats for the Ghad Party and 11 seats for the Nour Party.

It has also agreed that the council should not pass any law without holding a national dialogue.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Sunday’s papers: Competing statements from bitter rivals

by admin
December 9th, 2012

Sunday’s papers carry strong statements issued Saturday by weighty politicians on the bottleneck Egypt has been trying to pass through in recent months.

The Armed Forces, which was largely sidelined after President Mohamed Morsy was sworn into office on 30 June, reappeared in the political sphere issuing a warning statement on the country’s increasingly polarized situation.

State-run daily Al-Ahram leads with a story saying that Ahmed Mohamed Ali, official spokesperson of the military, warned in a statement posted on the Armed Forces’ official Facebook page of “catastrophic consequences” if the deepening political rift is not addressed.

Though the statement backed the Islamist president’s call on political forces to engage in national dialogue to achieve consensus, it stressed that, “The military institution always sides with the great people of Egypt.”

The military council ran Egypt during an interim period after former President Hosni Mubarak was toppled in a popular uprising in February 2011. The statement in the state mouthpiece did not signal that the army has plans to reclaim power in the country, but it pledged to interfere in case violence breaks out.  

“The dialogue approach is the best and only way to reach consensus…the opposite would get us into a dark tunnel with disastrous consequences, which we will not allow,” the statement reads.

On another front, state-owned Al-Akhbar runs a top headline, “A positive dialogue in the presidential palace with the participation of national and partisan figures.”
With the growing internal tensions and ongoing street battles, Morsy called on all political groups to meet Saturday in a bid to reach a common ground on the escalating constitutional crisis.

Independent daily Al-Tahrir, however, slams the national dialogue, claiming its “failure” as a result of the absence of the opposition’s influential political parties, including the Constitution Party, the Popular Current, and the April 6 Youth Movement.

The paper adds that both Ahmed Mahran, head of Cairo’s Center for Political and Legal Studies, and Hayam Abdel Hamed, a member of the Constituent Assembly, withdrew from the meeting on the grounds that the government still clings to Morsy’s decrees.        

Privately-owned Youm7 echoes Al-Tahrir’s reports in its seventh page accusing Morsy of holding a one-sided conversation and following in the footsteps of the dissolved National Democratic Party.

Freedom and Justice, the mouthpiece of the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, handled Morsy’s meeting differently, opting for its usual victorious language: “The president quenches sedition … and welcomes the opposition’s suggestions.”

The partisan paper focuses on the allegedly successful outcome of the national dialogue, quoting Prime Minister Hesham Qandil’s words to an anonymous TV station as saying that the president agreed on introducing some amendments to his 22 November constitutional declaration which grants him sweeping powers and immunize his decrees from future legal challenges.

However, the referendum on the draft constitution which was hurriedly produced by the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly is still scheduled to be held on 15 December. The story stops at Qandil’s statements, not covering the decisions the president reconsidered.

In a press conference held Saturday morning at the Brotherhood’s Cairo headquarters in Moqattam, Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie issued a fierce attack on the opposition and condemned violence against his group’s supporters and the storming of 28 of its offices across the country, privately-owned Youm7 says.

Badie’s statements comes in response to accusations that the group’s Guidance Bureau ordered its Islamist allies to mobilize in front of the presidential palace Wednesday under the pretext of protecting it from the so-called “thugs.”

Independent daily Al-Sabah quotes Badie as saying that eight people lost their lives in the recent clashes in front of the presidential palace and that all of them belong to the Brotherhood youth.

Khairat al-Shater, a Brotherhood deputy supreme guide, adopted threatening language in a press conference hosted by the Jurisprudence Commission for Rights and Reform Saturday. He said that the group would not allow upheaval against Morsy, claiming that information had been obtained about meetings organizing a conspiracy against the president, Al-Tahrir reports.    

However, the paper points out that there is discrepancy in the number of “Brotherhood martyrs” reported by Badie and Shater. The latter said that only six have been killed instead of eight.      

In response, the National Salvation Front released a statement calling for a general, peaceful strike across the governorates condemning the government’s attempts to drag the country into endless ruses, the liberal party paper Al-Wafd writes.

The coalition of non-Islamist political groups declined to enter into Morsy’s dialogue with other opposition forces, saying talks can only take place if the president scraps his recent decrees and calls off the referendum on the controversial draft constitution.

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-Watan: Daily, privately owned

Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party

Youm7: Daily, privately owned

Al-Tahrir: Daily, privately owned

Al-Sabah: 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

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Opposition protesters to march again to presidential palace

by admin
December 9th, 2012

Several political parties and movements once again plan to march to the presidential palace Sunday to protest the constitutional declaration and upcoming referendum.

Marches starting from Nour Mosque in Abbasseya, Keshk Mosque in Hedayek al-Qubba and Al-Sa’a Square, Mostafa al-Nahhas and Abbas al-Aqqad streets in Nasr City will head to the palace at 4 pm.

The marches are the latest in a series of protests against President Mohamed Morsy and the referendum scheduled for 15 December. Seven people were killed after clashes erupted outside the presidential palace last week between supporters and opponents of the president.

Morsy issued a new declaration Saturday partially amending the November declaration by reinstating judicial review, but still granting Morsy broad powers to “protect the revolution.”

In the new declaration, Morsy also says that a new Constituent Assembly would have six months to draft a new constitution if the Egyptian public votes down the current draft.

Meanwhile, the National Salvation Front is meeting Sunday to decide its stance on the new declaration, according to an AFP report.

The front, which is a coalition of several prominent opposition politicians and liberal and leftist parties, has not yet issued a response to the declaration. 

However, Mohamed ElBaradei, who is a member of the front and also heads the opposition Constitution Party, has denounced the new declaration on Twitter, calling on Egyptians to unite against it.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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Anti-constitution protesters gather in Tahrir

by admin
December 7th, 2012

Protesters began to gather in Tahrir Square Friday morning to take part in a demonstration against the recent constitutional declaration and upcoming constitutional referendum, called for by 21 political parties.

They chanted slogans against President Mohamed Morsy and the Muslim Brotherhood as they marched through the square.

The demonstrators are calling for the cancellation of Morsy's 22 November constitutional declaration, in which he granted himself sweeping authority, as well as the 15 December constitutional referendum. They demanded that the Constituent Assembly be reformed in a way that would guarantee a balanced constitution.

They also called for the dismissal of the Cabinet and restructuring of the Interior Ministry.

Journalists plan to stage a march from their syndicate at 2 pm to join the one in Tahrir.

The syndicate's council called for the march on Thursday following unofficial reports of the death of Al-Fagr photojournalist Al-Husseini Abu Deif, who was shot in the head with birdshot during the presidential palace clashes on Wednesday.

The council also demanded that a complaint against Ahmed Mohamed Ali Sebei, a syndicate member and a spokesperson for the Freedom and Justice Party, be referred to the syndicate's general assembly. Thirteen members filed the complaint alleging that Sebei was involved in beating protesters during Wednesday's clashes and responsible for inciting the attack on Abu Deif.

Edited translation from MENA

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Opposition calls for protest marches to presidential palace Tuesday

by admin
December 2nd, 2012

 

Nearly 20 opposition political parties and activist groups have called for marches to the presidential palace on Tuesday in a million-man demonstration titled “Last Warning,” to protest against the newly drafted constitution and its upcoming referendum vote on 15 December.

The opposition forces, joined together at a sit-in in Tahrir Square that began last week, stressed that they would continue to hold public sit-ins until their demands are met.

The planned marches would be the first act of escalation in response to President Mohamed Morsy's calls to vote on the constitutional draft by the middle of the month.

“President Mohamed Morsy, who was elected to be a legitimate and democratic president, is losing his legitimacy with his policies and practices that are biased to his party and his group, and so we will organize marches to his palace on Tuesday,” the parties and groups said in a joint statement.

The statement also accused Morsy of breaking his earlier promise not to put the constitution to a referendum unless all national forces approved it. It also said the draft constitution was a project to restrict Egyptians’ political, civil, economic and social rights and freedoms.

Political parties and movements opposing the declaration are scheduled to announce on Monday the assembly points and routes of the planned marches, which is set to begin at 5 pm. The Sunday statement emphasized that the marches would be peaceful, and held the state responsible for securing them.

Opposition groups held massive demonstrations last Tuesday in protest of Morsy’s 22 November constitutional declaration conferring unchallengeable powers upon his office. Some demonstrators continued the protest with the Tahrir sit-in.

In response, Islamist parties and movements demonstrated in support of the president in front of Cairo University on Saturday.

The opposition statement was signed by the Constitution Party, Socialist Popular Alliance Party, Egyptian Social Democratic Party, April 6 Youth Movement, Democratic Front Party and Maspero Youth Union.

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