A recent Muslim Brotherhood statement on the current political limbo has sparked controversy in terms of its timing and objectives, with pro-army pundits interpreting it as a prelude for the group to participate in Egypt's forthcoming parliamentary elections, from Cairo writes Adam Hayaty... Some observers have criticized the statement as a "political manoeuvre" by the group ahead of the polls. The presidential election will be held on 26-27 May to be followed by parliamentary election late this year. The statement, released on 9 May under the title "The Muslim Brotherhood and the institutions of the State", detailed how to resolve the current political impasse. It, however, did not touch on the group's basic demand of the reinstatement of deposed president Mohammad Morsi as part of its suggested resolution to the crisis. In its statement, the Muslim Brotherhood said it is "seeking to correct the upended situation and the return of the people as the ruler of the State and its institutions". The statement comes few days after both presidential candidates Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Hamdin Sabahi vowed that the group would cease to exist in Egypt in the future. In its statement the group said: "Dictatorial regimes have accused the Muslim Brotherhood of working to disrupt the institutions of the state and to suspend the constitution in order to distort its image." The Brotherhood said that the "regimes" have "put it [the Brotherhood] under the penalty of law and approving severe punishment on them" to the extent of "accusing the group of terrorism, which won the confidence of the people in all fair elections". "After the 25 January Revolution the people's increased hope to get rid of military rule and eliminate corruption and tyranny were sky high," said the Brotherhood. It said that the year of Morsi's rule was "filled with obstacles, fabricated problems, media incitement and internal and external conspiracies, in preparation for the onslaught of military power again on 3 July 2013". It added that the situation in Egypt is "the worst since the days of 1952", referring to the military-led ouster of the royal family and British occupation and the establishment of the Arab Republic of Egypt. Since the ouster of Morsi in July, the interim authorities have harshly cracked down on the Muslim Brotherhood, killing hundreds and arresting thousands of its leaders, members and supporters. In December, the government declared the group a terrorist organization. The Brotherhood said the "military establishment" should "return to its barracks and exercise its specialisation and role of defence and protection and to move away from politics and government". The group also called for greater separation of powers in governance and for "the people to cleanse all state institutions", adding: "It is the only way to remove Egypt from tyranny and push it on the road to power and construction and the elimination of chronic problems." The group said: "Countries without institutions or with weak and ruptured institutions live in chaos, not to mention the possibility of it [being] torn apart and divided". It stressed it "will not allow" this to happen to Egypt. "The Brotherhood want Egypt to be a great and strong country", which it believes will drive progress in the region due to "its influence in third world countries [that] is no secret throughout history". Pro-army and liberal activists criticised the Brotherhood statement as a "manoeuvre" by the group. Political expert Amr Hashim Rabi said the statement was directed to the West, not the Egyptian people, criticizing it as "misleading". Muhammad al-Sa'id, member of the pro-army Grouping of Revolutionary Forces, rejected the statement as a "kind of political manoeuvre to win the sympathy of Egyptians". Abdallah Kamal, former editor-in-chief of the state-run Rose al-Yousef newspaper, also criticized the statement as a "confused one". He said the statement's failure to touch on Morsi and his legitimacy did not have any significance. He wondered whether "this statement may pave the way for directing certain votes in the forthcoming presidential elections [referring to the Brotherhood's possibly supporting liberal presidential candidate Hamdin Sabahi]". Meanwhile, Egyptian pundits and social media activists interpreted the statement as signalling the group's intention to run in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. The state-run Al-Ahram quoted political forces figures as regarding the statement as "backtracking on the Brotherhood's stance and a prelude to its participation in the forthcoming parliamentary elections". It also quoted some pundits as saying that the statement might be part of "a deal between the Brotherhood and the next regime, that would include a settlement of the current crisis ahead of the presidential elections". Former member of 6 April Youth Movement Mahmud Afifi said on his Facebook page: "The statement comes to pave the way for participating in the coming parliamentary elections." Similarly, Twitter user Muhammad al-Badri (@Mohelbadry6) said: "This means the Muslim Brotherhood are running - bluntly - in the forthcoming parliamentary elections, but with new names." Activist Musaad Abu-Fajr said that the statement reflected a "notable progress" in the position adopted by the Brotherhood group, and was a "good step."
