A 12 July meeting of the higher committee of the Wafd Party attempted to clear the air and contain internal clashes which have hit the party's ranks, say Wafd leaders. Problems first came to a head in June when many party members accused the party's MPs of ignoring the Wafd's position on the maritime border agreement ceding control of the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia and instead siding with the government in the 14 June parliamentary vote. The Wafd Party officially opposed the deal. MPs' refusal to toe the party line led to a number of leading members to threaten to resign from the party unless disciplinary measures were taken against the errant MPs. Bahaaeddin Abu Shokka, chairman of the Wafd's parliamentary bloc, came under strong censure with some demanding he should quit. But in a statement issued following the vote Abu Shokka claimed he had received a vote of confidence from Wafdist MPs who demanded he should continue as their head and labelled his opponents as “conspirators”. Abu Shokka was subsequently forced to submit his resignation to the higher committee on 21 June and Saber Ata, Abu Shokka's deputy, was temporarily assigned head of the Wafd parliamentary bloc. In an attempt to clarify his position Abu Shokka claimed he had not approved the agreement but only referred it to parliament, in his capacity as head of the Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, for discussion in a general session. He pointed out that he had been absent from parliament on the say of the vote and insisted he would “never cede a millimeter of Egyptian land”. In an attempt to contain inter-party disputes Wafd Chairman Al-Sayed Al-Badawi met with Abu Shokka and other party leaders. Al-Badawi was keen to convince Abu Shokka to withdraw his resignation and other Wafdists to adopt a more tolerant position towards the party's MPs. It was agreed that members of the parliamentary bloc should coordinate more closely with the higher committee to avoid future clashes. Abu Shokka withdrew his resignation on 1 July and was confirmed in his post as the party's secretary-general. It remains unclear, however, whether he will retain his position as head of the Wafd parliamentary bloc. The post is in the hands of the higher committee which is expected to select a candidate ahead of the next parliamentary session. Following Al-Badawi's meeting, the Wafd higher committee convened with Abu Shokka attending. He took other committee members by surprise by asking Al-Badawi to allow him to exercise the prerogatives of party chairman for a month in order to unify the party. Though Al-Badawi extended the powers of his deputies to guarantee greater flexibility Abu Shokka's request met with strong opposition from Wafdist leaders who warned it would threaten the integrity of the party's chairmanship election due to be held in April. Abu Shokka had earlier said he intended to stand in the poll. Al-Badawi, who has been Wafd Party chairman since 2010, refused Abu Shokka's request. “To discuss such issues now would renew party divisions,” said Wafd Deputy Chairman Abdel-Alim Dawoud. “We are in the process of restructuring the party. Members should put aside all differences and focus on restoring the party's status.” Dawoud revealed that preparations are ongoing to celebrate the party's centenary next year and the occasion will be used to launch “a reform programme covering issues of concern to ordinary citizens”. Abu Shokka, 79, is the only leading Wafdist to have declared his intention to contest the chairmanship post. Once seen as Al-Badawi's anointed successor, the recent controversies in which he has been embroiled mean he is now less certain to win. Dawoud and Hossam Al-Kholi, the Wafd Party's deputy chairman, are both thought to be possible candidates, as is Fouad Badrawi, dismissed from the party in 2015 following a clash with Al-Badawi. His supporters are campaigning to bring him back into the party's ranks. Amr Moussa, the Wafd's honorary president, is also being mentioned as a possible compromise candidate.
