- MB in International press
- September 9, 2009
- 3 minutes read
Egypt political leader supports a Muslim Brotherhood Party
Osama Ghazali Harb, the leader of the Democratic Front Party, called on opposition parties to a hold a number of national dialogue sessions to discuss what he called “the future of Egypt after Mubarak’s departure of office.” The political leader said that opposition groups in the country must come together and agree on alternatives to the scenario that sees the elder Mubarak pass the mantle to his son, Gamal.
Harb said at a Ramadan breakfast, or iftar, organized by the party on Monday, that political parties in Egypt should prepare themselves and get ready “for effective participation in such a dialogue.”
As always, he criticized the Muslim Brotherhood’s ideology, and said that it does not recognize the complete citizenship of all Egyptians and does “differentiates between the Muslim and Christian communities in many places because of their religious background and is more a civil group than as a political party.”
However, Harb continued to argue that they have the right to establish a political party, “which leads them to engage in the political life and enter the real political competition with political groups, so that they can show their real size and status of power.”
For it’s part, the Brotherhood continues to argue that it is not against Copts or women, despite controversy that erupted over a planned party platform that would forbid either becoming Egyptian president. The group has stated publicly that it is still discussing the content of the platform in its executive bureau.
Harb added that “if the Muslim Brotherhood opposition movement had the chance to run for free elections without the government’s intervention, they will not get more than 17 to 20 seats in the Parliament.”
He argues this despite the Brotherhood currently holding nearly one-fifth of Parliament seats after their shocking victory in the 2005 vote.
Harb said that the real elections in Egypt are “not going to happen,” saying that there was “uncertainty and confusion pre-processing for elections, which does not allow knowing the electoral system, which will be approved by the ruling National Democratic Party.” He questioned whether it is a proportional list process that is governed by the ruling party, or an individual system.
He called for the international supervision of elections, on condition that the supervision would be “real and serious.”
Harb emphasized that the 56th session of the Conference of the International Liberal Organization, which will be held in Cairo between October 29 and November 1, where the discussion would center around “education in the 21st century” and is expected to include the participation of all the liberal parties in the world.
He did not elaborate further.