Al-Shater: Morsi Win an Important Step towards New Political System

Al-Shater: Morsi Win an Important Step towards New Political System

Khairat Al-Shater, Vice-Chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood, expressed his sincere thanks to all Egyptians for stronger turnout in the recent run-off than in the first round of presidential elections.

In a telephone call to the “Ahl el-Balad” program on satellite TV channel “Misr 25”, Al-Shater asserted that active participation in the elections shows the Egyptian people’s vitality, awareness and real deep desire for change.

Al-Shater added that the Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) hope this vitality and awareness will continue among the Egyptian people, to protect the revolution and achieve its goals.

"The first of these goals is building a modern democratic political system, based on institutions eager to serve the people and depend on the peaceful transfer and circulation of power, on the rule of law and respect for human rights and the rights of citizenship as well as rights of minorities, – institutions keen to safeguard independence of the judiciary, and to provide security and safety for all Egyptians.

"The second goal is to launch the integrated initiatives of comprehensive revival, rejuvenation and development, with the aim of providing a good, decent and dignified life fit for the Egyptian people and their great history."

Al-Shater pointed out that, "It is clear that we are still going through the throes of massive change, where two major forces are locked in conflict. The first is ‘the Egyptian people, from across the entire spectrum’ endeavoring to achieve the goals of the revolution honestly and faithfully. The second is ‘a group of special interest parties’ trying desperately to reproduce the Mubarak regime, once again, albeit in a modified form. It, therefore, is quite natural to see signs of such a conflict".

The Brotherhood’s Vice-Chairman added that in spite of this hard labor of change, the Egyptian people completed the first democratic institution of their emerging political system: Parliament, with its two chambers. However, this was dealt a brutal blow, a major setback, when parliament was simply dismissed by an unelected body, raising many questions and suspicions.

Al-Shater pointed out that this is not the opinion of the Muslim Brotherhood or the FJP alone, but the opinion of unbiased jurists and most patriotic political parties, groups and movements.

He added that the second step, starting formation of the presidential institution through free and fair elections, has been completed, despite all the violations and irregularities that marred those elections.

"Anyone can review Carter Center’s report on the electoral process, all its circumstances and problems. Despite this, the Egyptian people have spoken, choosing the FJP’s candidate, Dr. Mohamed Morsi."

Al-Shater asserted that the Brotherhood considers Morsi’s victory an important step in the formation of a new political system. He expressed hope that this step is indeed successful, so that the new president would be in office by the end of June 2012, and would adopt a unifying approach of broad-based consensus in the presidential institution and the cabinet, engaging leaders from across the entire national, political and popular spectrum – as much as possible, in order to save Egypt from drowning, to establish its modern political system, and to launch its Nahda (renaissance) project.

"As everyone knows, the Muslim Brotherhood, the FJP and Dr. Morsi have declared over and over again, that this is too great a task for one party on its own, in light of internal and external challenges and the continuous attempts to reproduce the Mubarak regime. The slogan ‘Our strength, in our unity’ is not just an electoral motto, but a necessity that must be turned into reality on the ground.

"Today, we are witnessing a very massive campaign of false reports and rumors – aimed at further confusing the political scene, depriving the Egyptian people of their natural right to rejoice at the victory of their first democratically elected President of the Republic in many long decades – airing vilifying fabricated fables as people gather together in huge numbers in Tahrir Square to demand the return of the elected Parliament and a fair chance for the Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution for the country."

Al-Shater added that SCAF must reconsider its supplementary constitutional declaration, which re-distributes powers in an unconstitutional way in this crucial phase of Egypt’s history.

Al-Shater urged all Egyptians not to be affected by these rumors, or by the psychological warfare tactics and maneuvers used by those who want to replicate Mubarak. He also highlighted the need to continue protests in Tahrir Square until the people’s demands are met, and also to support their president-elect until he gets in office and with full power to represent and serve all Egyptians.

He further stressed that the battle is huge, and the conflict is still hot, and requires a great deal of alertness, creativity, unity, and endeavors with all peaceful and powerful means possible, to achieve the objectives of the revolution, which was and still is peaceful.

Al-Shater explained that, “These events cannot affect the relationship between us and the army. The Armed Forces in general is a national institution. We, as the Brotherhood and as political and national groups and movements in Egypt, are determined to safeguard that institution, its strength, unity and respect. After all, it is a shield that protects Egypt externally and internally. We all know the size of the challenges facing Egypt”.

Moreover, the Brotherhood’s deputy leader said: "We are dealing with the military as an effective component in the system of Egyptian national, political and homeland security. All effective components – including the military, the presidential institution, parliament and all political players – should rely on continued dialogue and mutual understanding to try to reach broad consensus amongst all parties, in order to create a modern, efficient political system and to launch a comprehensive renaissance that will benefit everyone".

He pointed out that, currently, no single party or group can reflect any kind of national accord in Egypt, because the street is still in revolt, adding: "For this reason, everyone must be represented in the government. We do not object to any broad dialogue, allowing an opportunity for anyone who wants to express his or her opinion, so we can shape a unified vision to save our country".

Al-Shater said, "Dissolving parliament requires a popular referendum. No court or authority has the power to dismiss a parliament elected by 30 million Egyptians, not without referring the matter to those Egyptians. SCAF does not have the right to take a unilateral decision in a matter that affects the lives and the future of all the Egyptian people. Only the people have that right".