Members of the parliamentary majority of the Support Egypt coalition elected Abdel-Hadi Al-Qasabi as their new president on Monday. The election came after Mohamed Al-Sewidi, the outgoing president of the coalition, announced early this week that he would not run for a new two-year term. Al-Qasabi, who won the election uncontested, told members of the coalition's general assembly at an east Cairo hotel that he “will do his best to reinforce the role of the coalition in Egypt's parliamentary and political life”. Al-Qasabi, head of parliament's Social Solidarity Committee and deputy chairman of the Future of the Nation Party, also said the coalition aims to support Egypt's new democratic experience. “The decision by Al-Sewidi not to run for a new term shows a firm belief in the rotation of power. We are keen that everyone has the opportunity to take the helm of the coalition,” Al-Qasabi said. Al-Sewidi said he will remain a member of the political bureau of the coalition “to support the new leaders who will take the helm of our majority bloc in parliament”. The coalition has opened offices in various governorates, Al-Sewidi said, adding that “hopes are high under the new president that offices will cover all of Egypt's 27 governorates to have access to citizens everywhere.” Support Egypt was formed following the conclusion of parliamentary elections in January 2016. It is composed of 14 political parties which decided to join ranks to support the policies of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and his appointed cabinets. The coalition voted in favour of Egypt's agreement with the IMF and gave the newly-appointed government of Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouli a vote of confidence in July. The coalition comprises around 400 MPs — or almost two-thirds — out of a total 596 MPs. Speculation was rife that Support Egypt would move to be licensed as a political party. Al-Sewidi said in June that some legal obstacles still stand in the way of the coalition becoming a majority or a ruling political party. He also indicated many members of the coalition reject turning it into a political party. “A coalition is much better than a political party because it gives MPs the flexibility necessary to do their job without the bureaucratic demands required by a political party,” Al-Sewidi said. Essam Khalil, head of the Free Egyptians Party, told Al-Ahram Weekly in an interview last week that it was difficult for members affiliated with 14 political parties to merge into one entity in parliament. “The law regulating the performance of the House of Representatives stands opposed to MPs switching their political affiliations and alliances once they join parliament, a fact which is a big obstacle,” Khalil said. Al-Qasabi, also head of the Sufi sects, was such a highly influential figure in Support Egypt that he was easily able to garner support for Egypt's controversial law on NGOs. The law, which drew much criticism in American and other Western circles, imposes tight control on funding of foreign NGOs operating in Egypt. Following his election on Monday, Al-Qasabi said “no plans are underway to amend the House of Representatives law to allow the formation of a political party under the name of Support Egypt. The coalition is quite effective right now, and we hope that it will play a good role in the new parliamentary season which will have a busy agenda of important legislation on municipal councils, criminal procedures and a litigation on personal affairs,” Al-Qasabi said. Al-Qasabi denied reports that the controversial NGOs law is under review. “This law, which was ratified by President Al-Sisi, has still not been implemented as executive regulations are still being prepared,” Al-Qasabi said, adding that “we should give this law a chance to be implemented, and if it leads in any way to hindering the performance of NGOs, it could be placed under review.”
