Freedom and Justice Party Receives German Foreign Minister

Freedom and Justice Party Receives German Foreign Minister

Dr. Mohamed Morsi, Chairman of Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), received on Monday (January 30) Guido Westerwelle, Germany’s Foreign Minister. The two sides discussed the political scene in post-revolution Egypt and ways to bolster political and economic relations between Egypt and Germany.

Dr. Morsi welcomed the German Foreign Minister, pointing to the strength of relations between Egypt and Germany on both official and popular levels, and expressed appreciation for the German government’s respect of the will of the Egyptian people.
Dr. Morsi also pointed out that Egypt is passing through an important transitional period which requires it to strengthen its relations with all countries of the world, including Germany, which is an active member of the European Union, adding that the Egyptian people fully appreciate the German people and their success in rebuilding their country after World War II while retaining their identity and heritage.

The FJP Chairman and the German minister discussed details of the political landscape in the next stage, following the parliamentary elections and the convening of the Egyptian Parliament. Dr. Morsi pointed out that there is general agreement on the key points in the new Constitution, the most important of which are rights of citizenship, civil liberties and civil rights, while there is a need to make some amendments in Chapter V, on powers of the President of the Republic, the regime most suitable for Egypt, and the position of the armed forces. He also mentioned that there is a general consensus that the presidential / parliamentary system is the most appropriate political system for Egypt.

With regard to parliamentary Alliances, Dr. Morsi said that there are ongoing consultations among the political parties in Parliament for the selection of configurations for the People’s Assembly (PA) committees in a manner that will ensure the representation of the various parliamentary blocs in parliament.

With respect to the representation of women in Parliament, Dr. Morsi pointed that the FJP has the largest representation of women in parliament, adding that out of ten female MPs in the PA, four represent the FJP, playing a full roles and participation in the oversight, legislative and political activities. He also pointed out that there are thirty female candidates on the FJP candidate lists for Shura Council elections, expressing his appreciation for the role of women in Egyptian society.

Dr. Morsi called on the German Foreign Minister to impress on his government the need to support democratic change in Egypt at the political and the economic levels through encouraging investment in Egypt by German companies and by promoting German tourism to Egypt.

For his part, the German Foreign Minister expressed his pleasure at his visit to the FJP, underscoring the German government’s respect for the will of the Egyptian people, and congratulated the FJP on the marvellous results it achieved in parliamentary elections.

The German minister highlighted his country’s tireless efforts to support political and economic relations with the countries of the Arab Spring, including Egypt, pointing out that Germany supports the leaning within the European Union to support democratization in the Arab world by supporting exports coming to Europe and by encouraging tourism incoming to Egypt.