CAIRO - In yearning for the power that eluded the group for decades, the Muslim Brotherhood, who occupy nearly half of Parliament's seats, seem unaware of the pitfalls on the road. Officially banned from 1954 until last year, the group appear to have abandoned their political shrewdness in their desire to make as many gains as possible in a short time. Their insistence on starting procedures for a no confidence vote against the four-month-old Government of Kamal el-Ganzouri betrays the group's miscalculated hastiness and even political myopia. El-Ganzouri's is merely an interim government; it will be replaced when a new president is inaugurated in Egypt by July. There are two explanations for why the Muslim Brotherhood keep threatening the Ganzouri Government with being sacked by Parliament, where the group and the Salafists together hold more than two-thirds of the seats. The first is that the Brothers would like to leave no-one in this country and beyond in any doubt about their clout. The second is a burning, irresistible desire on the part of the Brothers to take control of the Government after sweeping Parliament. Whatever the reason may be, the Brothers should not be too hasty. They need to concentrate on the tasks devolved to them, now they have secured the parliamentary majority. They currently have an unprecedented chance to prove their credentials in resolving the country's socio-economic problems ranging from poverty and runaway unemployment to an inefficient healthcare system. They did well in the past in poor areas, despite systematic governmental oppression. Now they need to show their mettle in offering realistic cures for the nation's ills. This is a litmus test for the Brothers, which they cannot afford to fail. They risk losing their wide popularity among the Egyptians who voted en masse for them in recent parliamentary elections. Almost two months after the Islamist-controlled Parliament opened, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party has not lived up to expectations. Many Egyptians are disappointed at the overall performance of the legislature, which has yet to do anything substantial to help improve their living standards. In fact, Egyptians of different cultural backgrounds see little difference between the incumbent Parliament and those under Mubarak. "This cannot be the Parliament of the revolution." One often hears Egyptians utter this phrase whenever Parliament is mentioned. The majority party's performance inside Parliament prompts a comparison with Mubarak's now-disbanded National Democratic Party. This comparison makes an unpleasant impression, which is certainly not in the interests of the Brotherhood. One cannot dispute the right of the Brothers, being the majority party, to form the Government. But now is not the proper time, with the country in the throes of a tough transition to democracy. At the same time, the Brothers should not discourage el-Ganzouri's Government, which is going to be leaving soon anyway. Following their massive gains in the parliamentary polls late last year, senior leaders in the Muslim Brotherhood were keen to dispel fears among liberal Egyptians and minority Christians that the group eye a monopoly of power. To allay these fears, the group have pledged not to field a presidential contender from among their members. They even went a step further by sacking one of their senior members, Abdel-Moneim Abul Fotouh, when he stepped out of line and announced his intention to run for president. But the Brothers' current hankering after the Cabinet portfolios revives doubts about their actual agenda. It is not unlikely that they will come from behind at the 11th hour to field their own candidate or cut a deal to make a certain contestant in the presidential race a hot favourite. They should not be tempted to take more than one test at a time. More haste, less speed, Brother.
