The Muslim Brotherhood's new Freedom and Justice Party criticized Coptic business mogul Naguib Sawiris, accusing him of affiliation with the former regime. During a conference on Sunday celebrating the party's new branch in Mansoura, Daqahlia, party president Mohamed Morsy also said Sawiris has no political experience and a short history of public activities. Morsy stressed the need to confront “one element from the old corrupt regime who has established a political party to challenge all Egyptians,” referring to Sawiris's newly-established Free Egyptians Party. He said Sawiris "will fail in his plot, not because he is a Christian, but since there are many honorable Copts who would love to see Egypt restore its standing." He said Sawiris began his political activity by openly excluding a large sector of Egyptians and stating that he would devote millions to forestall any government including the Freedom and Justice Party or the Muslim Brotherhood. Sawiris' actions forced many of his party founders to quit, Morsy claimed. He said Sawiris bought those members with money obtained through close ties with the old regime. Morsy also said the party will take Sawiris' recent actions seriously, saying he ridiculed Islamic traditions. Sawiris had retweeted a caricature depicting Mickey Mouse with a beard and Minnie Mouse putting on a face veil, which provoked calls to boycott his mobile phone company and private satellite channels. Morsy also addressed the ongoing debate on whether to hold parliamentary elections as scheduled in September or draft a new constitution first. “Those who allege that holding parliament elections first will cause bloodshed, citing security fears, are Zionists and remnants of the old regime who want to earn time to get prepared," he said.
