CAIRO - After achieving unity in the January 25 revolution, recent incidents prove that political groups are trying hard to get the upper hand in calling for 'million-participants' demonstrations, observers state. “None of the political groups can individually call for 'million-person' marches,” Tareq Zidan, the founder of Egypt's Revolution Coalition, insisted. “If factions, parties and political groups don't agree on public issues, they won't succeed in rallying people to join mass demonstrations,” Zidan added. During the January 25 revolution, all revolutionaries and hitherto opposing political groups agreed on specific demands, namely ousting president Hosni Mubarak and his regime, in addition to dissolving the Parliament and municipality councils. “The success of any demonstration depends on the presented issues,” Abul-Ela Madi, head of Al-Wasat (Centre) Party, stated. “Ordinary people are capable of differentiating between important and useless issues. They won't follow pointless ideas or purposes.” However, many youth activist groups called for holding a 'Second Revolution of Anger' on May 27 in Al Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the January 25 revolution. But not all political groups wanted to participate. The Muslim Brotherhood, Salafists and 'formal' parties, such as the liberal Al-Wafd Party and the leftist Tagammu Party, boycotted the May 27 demonstrations. “This is only natural,” said George Isaaq, former co-ordinator of the Kifaya (Enough) Movement. “But they have to respect other opinions and refrain from speaking on behalf of all Egyptians.” “On May 27, the protesters made acceptable and unacceptable demands. We boycotted this protest because we did not approve of all demands, namely to replace the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces with a 'civil presidential' council,” declared Akram el-Shaer, a prominent Muslim Brotherhood leader. He accused the media of playing a negative role, when describing the split. “The media shoulder the responsibility of causing a split among the revolutionaries and exaggerate our difference of opinion,” added el-Shaer, previously also a member of the People's Assembly. “We have to be united and focus on issues we all agree on, like dissolving the municipality councils, respecting other opinions and applying democracy,” el-Shaer said. Abul-Ela Madi, head of Al-Wasat, didn't think there was a split. He believed that political groups were united in working towards the realisation of people's dreams and hopes. “In the public referendum on March 19, the majority voted for having the parliamentary elections, before the presidential ones. There is no justification for a split,” Madi continued. “According to the referendum on the constitutional amendments, the next parliament will elect a constitutional panel to prepare a new constitution. All this will foster and strengthen our political system,” he said enthusiastically. For his part, Coptic activist Michael Mounir supported the May 27 protests. “It was necessary to repeat the revolution's demands. The 'second revolution' didn't aim at toppling the Army. But we have the right to criticise the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces,” he said. “I hope we will create a civil state, which won't contradict our religions,” he added.
