THE state of unrest Egypt is living through today raises public anxiety and concern about the possible end of this transitional period and the hand over of rule to a civil authority by June 30 as the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) promised. Since assuming the responsibility of rule after Mubarak regime was toppled, SCAF promised to transfer rule to a civil authority within six months, after which they would return to their designated military mission. However, the transitional period has been prolonged to a year and half because of the wrong drive the generals chose to take in rebuilding the State institutions. Even the only real achievement attained during that period represented in the parliamentary elections could be nullified with a court ruling of their being unconstitutional. Herein, the nation would find itself returning to square one. The drawing up of a new constitution is being impeded by the insistence of the Islamist parties, mainly the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), to form a majority dominating the membership of the Constituent Assembly. The presidential election that is supposed to start within two weeks is facing huge challenges that threaten to delay it. Parliament continues to challenge the Government and SCAF by insisting on making a Cabinet reshuffle at such a critical time, despite the fact that the present government will not remain in office after a new president is elected. Some analysts justify this move by the MB, who enjoy a majority in the present parliament, as an attempt to counter the threat of dissolving parliament and to create a coalition government under their leadership to sponsor the presidential election process and the writing of the constitution. Apparently, the Muslim Brotherhood have lost much of the public support due to their weak performance in parliament and their apparent intentions to dominate the scene at the cost of all other political powers, just as the dissolved National Democratic Party did for more than three decades under Mubarak's rule. Despite all the turmoil, anxiety, and unrest the country is experiencing today, there are still some good signs to demonstrate that the sacrifices made by the Egyptians during the days of the revolution and for long months after that, will not be wasted. Some of the political Islamists, who were showing some naivety in dealing with politics, have started to gain experience and have amended their speech and even stances to accommodate the other political powers. The Salafists, who appeared at one stage as the most extremist in their direction, have started taking some wise stands pertaining to the different developments to restore the country's stability in agreement with the different political powers. In addition, some MB members have broken their long silence and announced their opposition to positions being taken by leaders of the movement as well as its FJP party. These relate to the formation of the Constituent Assembly and presenting a presidential candidate from the movement in violation to the group's previous promise not to compete for the presidential seat. The most important development, however, is the step recently taken by Mohamed ElBaradei in announcing the formation of a new political civil party under the name of Al-Dostour (the constitution), adopting the principles of the January 25 revolution and bringing all revolutionary powers and coalitions under its umbrella. ElBaradei hopes that his party will attract some five million members, expressing his conviction that it will once rule the country – after four years – and so revive and implement the goals of the revolution that different powers are working to abort today. ElBaradei 's move seems unnoticed by the different conflicting powers on the scene today, whether they are competing for the presidential position or seeking to form a government and write the constitution. Those who seemed to utter a sigh of relief on seeing the man quit the presidential race, have not realised his intelligent move of forming a civil party at such a critical time when the nation seems to be losing faith in the different powers on the scene. ElBaradei seems to be throwing a life belt to the desperate nation with his new party, which is intended to gather and unite all revolutionary powers under its umbrella. It will either merge them into a single large civil party or get into a political coalition to confront those Islamists that emerged after the revolution, with the support of the military rulers, to steal its fruit. As opposed to being too late, ElBaradei has chosen the right time for creating his new party. Forming it after the presidential election's launch and parliament's formation enables him to freely establish it in different parts of the country and become the rightful alternative to the political powers that have managed to dominate the scene today, but have proven to be a failure in the citizens' eyes. It was the right move on his part to distance himself from the ongoing conflict on the presidential position at such a stage of the country's unrest. However, he should maintain a high profile and express clear opinions on the different crises the country is suffering today. Even with the election of a new president of the country and the writing of a new constitution, Egypt will take some time to enjoy stability and settle the different aspects of unrest that have erupted in all its sides. Herein, the revolutionary powers should be ready to take over to build the modern democratic state of Egypt.
