Free Egyptians Party MP Mohamed Abu Hamed resigned from his party Thursday night in order to devote more time to an unidentified project that would “serve the nation,” he said on his Twitter account Friday. Last week, Abu Hamed resigned from his post as head of the party's parliamentary bloc and was replaced by party chairman Ahmed Saeed. The privately owned Youm7 newspaper quoted Saeed as saying Abu Hamed's decision took him by surprise. Saeed said he first learned the news from the media, and then read Abu Hamed's resignation in a party-wide email sent at 2:30 am. Abu Hamed did not consult with anyone in the party about his resignation, Saeed said. “We wish him good luck,” he added. Saeed said his party will remain dedicated to its role in developing Egypt, making it a nation where civil rights and equality prevail, and keeping it free from religious discrimination. Prominent Coptic businessman Naguib Sawiris founded the Free Egyptians Party soon after the January 25 uprising toppled the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak. The party's declared objective is to promote the economic and social development of Egypt. Its candidates ran under the umbrella of the liberal-oriented Egyptian Bloc during the recent parliamentary elections, winning 15 seats in the People's Assembly.
