Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Egypt's Supreme Energy Council reviews power supply plans for 14 industrial projects    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egyptian pound closes high vs. USD on Tuesday – CBE    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    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    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    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.



Morsy discussed constitution with Moussa, Aboul Fotouh, Sabahi
Published in Daily News Egypt on 03 - 11 - 2012


Mohamed Morsy meets Hamdeen Sabahi
Courtesy of the presidential office
President Mohamed Morsy held separate talks on Saturday with three high-profile former presidential candidates at the presidential palace in Heliopolis. The one hour meetings focused largely on the drafting of the constitution, while internal issues such as politics and the economy were secondary priorities.
Morsy met with Amr Moussa, leader of the Conference Party and foreign minister for a decade under Mubarak. According to Ahmed Kamel, Moussa's spokesperson, the meeting focused on Egypt's internal political and economic issues and, more importantly, the drafting of the constitution. “Time," Kamel said quoting Moussa, “is not the most significant factor for drafting the constitution." He argues that what is more important is the opinion of the public and whether they accept the final draft.
Moussa had told Morsy that it would be dangerous to focus on the final voting process surrounding the constitution given the current composition of the Constitutional Assembly. He also stressed it was important for there to be no pressure on the constitutional committee in order for them to be able to work unimpeded.
“These meetings are an attempt to bring closer the different points of view, rather than to apply pressure on or intervene in the Constituent Assembly," Kamel said. Moussa stressed that the public must be given the time to voice their opinion on the final draft of the constitution before the Constitutional Assembly reconvenes.
Morsy also met with Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, a former Muslim Brotherhood member and founder of the Strong Egypt Party. Aboul Fotouh reiterated in his meeting the need to finalise the constitution within the allotted time-frame. There was also talk of combating corruption.
Morsy held talks with Hamdeen Sabahi, the Nasserist founder of the Dignity Party and former independent presidential candidate. During their brief meeting, Sabahi expressed his desire to see the Constitutional Assembly restructured in a balanced way so that it may be more representative of all Egyptian people.
Sabahi advised Morsy to stick to the social justice demands that came from the revolution. He said the president should ensure there is a minimum and maximum wage system, progressive social taxation and the immediate cessation of the suppression of union strikes and other social movements. He also advised the president should revisit the farmers' plight to aid those “still suffering from poverty, marginalisation and neglect," according to a statement by Sabahi.
Sabahi was also critical of the government's decision to impose retail closing times, saying the closure of commercial premises would have a detrimental effect on thousands of “poor and simple people" in Egypt.
The drafting of the constitution has been met with criticism from both liberals and conservatives, which have felt the constitution in its current state does not adequately reflect their desires.
The total votes held by the three candidates amounted to half of all the votes cast during the first round of presidential elections. During that time, many critics argued that the elections could have gone differently had the liberals united under a single candidate.


Clic here to read the story from its source.