CAIRO: Five political parties and movements under foundation announced Tuesday their integration with the Democratic Front Party (DFP) to form a strong liberal coalition that promotes a civil state. "These parties and movements share the same principles of the Democratic Front Party and the integration will help the party expand, as well as unite liberal forces," said Osama Al-Ghazaly Harb, chairman of the DFP. The parties include the Egyptian Alliance Party, Egypt's Free Youth Party, Masr Al-Om Party and Jan. 25 Liberals movement and Coalition for Egypt movement. Members of the integrated parties will be members of the Democratic Front Party but will maintain their right to form their own groups and special entities within the party. "This is an important day in the history of modern politics development as we witness the birth of a strong political entity that will participate in drawing the Egyptian political map in the upcoming period," Harb said. Harb said that there is a tendency for major liberal streams including Al-Ghad and Al-Wafd parties to form coalitions. "At a time where there is too much focus on differences, the Democratic Front Party is presenting a model on how to unite efforts to achieve the dream of Egyptians in a democratic state," said Wael Nawara, one of the founders of Coalition for Egypt movement The parties initiated what they called "The Egyptian Project" that aims at turning Egypt into a developed country by the year 2025 and creating the modern Egyptian state through a number of development projects. The project aims at achieving fair economic development in all sectors while giving incentives to strategic sectors, as well as transforming the tourism and service sectors. They also called for administrative and legislative reform and reordering priorities by drafting a new constitution ahead of legislative and presidential elections. "We will continue our pressure for drafting the constitution first but at the same time will work on preparing for the elections next September by fielding competent candidates," Harb said. He said that their coalition isn't against the Muslim Brotherhood, who some analysts fear will dominate the scene, and that they deal with them the way they do with other political streams especially since they have established a political party. "This is an unusual development in the Egyptian political scene which is more used to divisions than to unity," said political analyst Amr El-Chobaki. "These coalitions are important to set up a political and legal framework that we will compete within the upcoming period in the absence of a constitution and a legislative authority," he added. Harb said that the party will postpone its internal elections until after the parliamentary polls to avoid distractions.
