CAIRO: The appointment of Abdel Wahab El Messiri as the new General Coordinator of the Kefaya opposition movement is expected to refocus the group's energies to push for political reformation. Hany Anan, a founding member of the movement, told The Daily Star Egypt that the next stage in Kefaya's contribution to the democratic reform process will focus more on Egypt s revamping and increasing political enfranchisement. The change of leadership came after two years of George Isaac's tutelage of a period which saw many demonstrations captured international headlines and seemed to indicate Egypt was witnessing political reform. However, since the September 2005 Presidential elections, the movement's impact seems to have waned. We are starting new educational training sessions to increase political awareness among the members, he added. El Messiri is the best to represent us in the coming stage, he is a very good manger, has strong communication skills and can address the public, Anan said, of the 64-year-old philosophy professor who took the helm last week. Politcal analyst Diaa Rashwan, whoever, believes that while Kefaya will likely trigger some political reform, the movement will remain a protesting movement not a cultural one. El Messiri by default has different ideologies that will be reflected on the movement, however no significant change will be expected to happen, Rashwan said. Mounir Fakhry Abdel-Nour, general secretary of the Al-Wafd opposition party, told The Daily Star Egypt that Kefaya s has a distinguished style which depends on protests and interaction with the people in the streets. I doubt that this style will be changed, Abdel-Nour said. Their protesting style is one of the main features of the movement, by changing it into panel discussions or training sessions, the movement will lose a lot, Abdel-Nour added. Mahmoud Ezzat, Muslim Brotherhood secretary general, refused to comment on the change and said that this change concerns another movement that he has nothing to do with.
