CAIRO - The Muslim Brotherhood, the nation's most organised political power, has repeatedly denied that it is aiming at winning a majority in the next Parliament. The organisation's denial was recently made by one of its influential members: Dr Essam el-Erian. El-Erian, who is the deputy chairman of the group's newly founded Freedom and Justice Party, also called upon their political rivals to stop their vociferous arguments over which should come first; the Constitution or the Parliament. He said that the Freedom and Justice Party was strongly rejecting suggestions to delay the legislative elections scheduled to be held in September. “The pro-Constitution first campaigners are urged to cease their pointless disputes and pitch in to rally behind serious and constructive dialogue,” he added. “The result of the referendum on March 19 should be respected,” he said. “Ineffective talking and wrangling should end and we should collaborate in achieving a real and constructive dialogue, in which all political powers and representatives of the nation should take part.” El Erian, who spent several years in jail under the regime of ex-president Hosni Mubarak, said that the referendum's results “constituted testimonial evidence to the will of the nation”. “Voters cast their ballot in an atmosphere of integrity and transparency,” he declared. “Therefore, the nation's will should not be overtaken or ignored.” Established in 1928, the Muslim Brotherhood was officially banned since 1954 until last February. El-Erian refused to allow members of the now-dissolved National Democratic Party, which ruled Egypt for more than 30 years, to take part in any political activities in the country. However, he suggested that such a ban should not be permanent. “Members of the disbanded party should be evicted from the political arena for a definite period, after which they could resume their activities and take part in general elections.” El-Erian insisted that these people had committed crimes against the Egyptians and they should not escape with impunity. The top leaders of the formerly ruling party are already detained while Mubarak has been under detention in a hospital in the Red Sea town of Sharm el-Sheikh. Meanwhile, Saad el-Katatni the chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party initiated psychological warfare against different competitors when he discounted their influence in the political street and during the forthcoming general elections. “Our party is counting on the wise decisions of Egyptian voters in post-revolution Egypt,” he told the Arabic-language newspaer Al-Gomhuria recently. He said that the Freedom and Justice Party would be satisfied with winning 50 per cent of the seats in the next parliament. El-Katatni added that the party had already groomed its candidates in different constituencies in readiness for the next general elections.
