Egypt reviews airport security, services    Egypt seeks Indian expertise to boost pharmaceutical industry    Egyptian pound shows stability vs. USD in early trade    Egypt's PM heads to Japan for TICAD 9 Africa development summit    National Council for Childhood reviews plan to combat child labour    Egypt's Supreme Organ Transplant Committee strengthens oversight, standards    Price cuts underway across Egypt, says trade federation report    African agribusiness market expected to reach $1tr by 2030    Israelis protest for hostage deal amid growing pressure on Netanyahu    Serbia's Vucic vows 'tough measures' against protesters after unrest    Zelenskyy seeks US security guarantees as Trump says he can 'end war now'    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt delivers over 30 million health services through public hospitals in H1 2025    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Muslim Brotherhood vies for 30 pct of parliament
Published in Daily News Egypt on 10 - 10 - 2010

CAIRO: The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group, said Saturday it will contest up to 30 percent of the seats up for grabs in next month's parliamentary elections, shrugging off calls for a boycott and warnings of a government crackdown.
The group's decision to field as many candidates as it did in 2005, when it shocked the ruling establishment by winning a fifth of the seats in parliament, presents a defiant message to the government, which has vowed not to allow the group to repeat its strong showing.
Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie said the group has decided to take part in the November vote to encourage civic duty and to confront and expose vote rigging.
But Badie also urged the government to ensure a fair vote, warning that anything less will cast a shadow over the 2011 presidential election. President Hosni Mubarak, who has ruled for nearly 30 years, is expected to run again, although there is widespread speculation that he is grooming his son to succeed him.
"We call on the ruling regime to show the maximum degree of responsibility in running the election process ... and to realize that any flaws marring these parliamentary elections will cast their shadow over every future election," Badie said.
The Brotherhood's unexpectedly strong performance in the 2005 race came despite reports of widespread vote rigging and intimidation by the government. At least 14 people were killed in election-related violence blamed on security agents and thugs.
This year, the Brotherhood said it would resort to peaceful means, such as protest and strikes, to combat fraud.
The Brotherhood, which is officially banned but is allowed to field candidates as independents, has faced a heavy government crackdown since its surprise showing in the 2005 elections. Thousands of Brotherhood activists have been arrested in recent years, including some of the group's leading members and financiers.
There are 508 seats up for grabs in the November vote, and another 10 are appointed by the president. Brotherhood officials said the group plans to field up to 15 female candidates. There are 64 seats designated for women under a new quota system.
Badie also said the Brotherhood would run under its usual banner of "Islam is the solution," despite warnings from election officials against the use of religious slogans.
The Brotherhood's decision to participate was taken unanimously within the group, Badie said, despite an ongoing national debate— including inside the Brotherhood— on whether political forces should boycott a vote that is heavily controlled by the government.
Egypt's leading democracy advocate, Mohamed ElBaradei, has called on politicians and voters to skip the polls because the conditions for a free vote have deteriorated since 2005. ElBaradei, the former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, says a boycott would deny the regime legitimacy.
But the Brotherhood defended its decision, saying the regime relies on force and not elections for its legitimacy. Group members said election season provides a chance to promote alternative ideas and expose the regime's lack of popularity.
"We participate for Egypt's sake," said Brotherhood spokesman Essam El-Erian. "The problem is in the regime, which doesn't listen or understand."
ElBaradei, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, returned to Egypt earlier this year to lead a budding reform movement that has worked closely with the Brotherhood to gather signatures for a petition calling for reforms.
The government has so far ignored the calls. ElBaradei has warned his group would resort to civil disobedience as a last resort. The Brotherhood said its election participation doesn't contradict its cooperation with ElBaradei.
Meanwhile, visiting Assistant US Secretary of State for Democracy and Human Rights Michael Posner said he has urged the Egyptian government to allow international observers to monitor the elections. Egypt has routinely rejected observer missions, saying they infringe on the nation's sovereignty.


Clic here to read the story from its source.