FRA approves establishment of five new firms for investment fund management, SME financing    Sukari Gold Mine showcases successful public–private partnership: Minister of Petroleum    Egypt's Environment Minister attends AMCEN conference in Nairobi    Egypt considers launching national platform to mobilise green financing for private-sector industrial transformation    Egyptian, Belarusian officials discuss drug registration, market access    Egypt's ARC, Italy's AICS sign deal to boost wheat production    Gold prices edge higher on July 16th    Egypt stocks hit record highs in 2025 as reforms fuel rally: Cabinet    Egypt condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Syria    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Egypt, Mexico explore joint action on environment, sustainability    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM urges BRICS to prioritise peace    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    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    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    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.



Islamist president hopeful tells army not to meddle
Published in Daily News Egypt on 09 - 12 - 2011

CAIRO: A leading Islamist presidential hopeful said on Thursday the army had no right to meddle in drawing up Egypt's new constitution and said the elected parliament, on course for an Islamist majority, should control the drafting process.
Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, who was turfed out of the Muslim Brotherhood after defying its decision not to run for the presidency, also told Reuters he did not expect even hardline Islamist parliamentarians to demand new Islamic ideas be written into the constitution beyond those already in the old one.
Aboul Fotouh said the military was welcome to its own views, but it should not try to force them on to the country.
"The army can state its opinion in any political issue or cause - and that will be appreciated and welcomed - without interfering or imposing any opinion," he said in an interview at his home on the outskirts of Cairo.
Parliament will choose the 100-strong assembly to draft the constitution, but an army general said on Wednesday that an advisory council to the ruling army, the army-backed cabinet and parliament should first agree criteria for who would qualify.
The announcement gives unelected bodies a role in the selection and appeared to revive earlier army-backed proposals setting ground rules for the drafting. Those were withdrawn in November after protests against army rule that turned violent.
Aboul Fotouh, 60, who was viewed as a moderate and a reformer when in the Brotherhood, said it "would be wrong ... for someone to imagine something can be imposed on an elected parliament. It is against the rules of democracy and freedoms".
Opinion polls and analysts suggest Aboul Fotouh is among the leading presidential contenders. He was recently put ahead of figures such as former U.N. diplomat Mohamed ElBaradei but behind ex-Arab League chief Amr Moussa, who was also a popular Egyptian foreign minister and is a well-known public face.
Some critics of Aboul Fotouh say the Brotherhood may be quietly backing him despite formally pushing him out of the group. He says he keeps channels open with the Brotherhood, other Islamists, liberals and a range of groups.
The Brotherhood, whose party is ahead in the staggered parliamentary election, criticized the army's latest remarks on drafting the constitution as an attempt to undercut parliament.
Aboul Fotouh said he expected the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party to seek a broad alliance in parliament, which is what the party itself has said it wants.
Playing down concerns
"I believe the Brotherhood, given its history and experience, can create dialogue with all different parties," he said, adding that the group would lead any majority "in a moderate way and in favor of the national interest and not a certain group".
The Brotherhood says it wants a democratic Islamic state but has long sought to win over society to its vision gradually.
"I am very confident based on my knowledge of Egypt's political scene, especially the Islamic segment, that the coming constitution will not be very different from the previous one."
Though the old constitution was criticized for articles that cemented the one-man rule of ousted President Hosni Mubarak, legal experts have said it included some well-worded sections on civil and other rights, even if they were routinely ignored.
Aboul Fotouh played down concerns about the ultra-conservative Salafis, the surprise runners up in the parliamentary poll so far. Salafis want Egypt run according to Islamic sharia law But he said he did not expect them to seek big constitutional changes.
"I have been talking to the main Salafi Al-Nour Party ... I don't agree with them in all of their opinions but I am happy that they are developing," said Aboul Fotouh.
He said Salafis would be satisfied to keep article two of the constitution stating "the principles of Islamic law are the principle source of legislation" without demanding more change.
"They were only upset when some asked for this article to be removed," Aboul Fotouh said.
Analysts say Salafis may initially use their ballot box gains to impose dress codes and other strictures more informally, rather than seek a swift change to laws.
The army has said the new constitution could be in place before the presidential race expected in June, though that would be a tight deadline when the staggered upper and lower house election for parliament will not be completed till March.
In his own presidential campaign, Aboul Fotouh said he would work to protect personal freedoms, opposing any attempt to impose rules on food, drink and dress or coercion in beliefs in a nation where a tenth of the 80 million population are Christian.
"I will fight this with all my powers whether as a member of society or as an official or as president," he said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.