EgyptFeatures/Interviews

Q&A with Wafd Party general-secretary

The Wafd Party has recently undergone several highly publicised developments. Al-Masry Al-Youm interviewed Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, the party’s general-secretary, to discuss recent remarks he made on al-Hurra satellite news channel, which were considered by some to have been aimed against the party’s current chairman, Sayyed al-Badawi.

Al-Masry Al-Youm: Everyone was stunned this week by your remarks against al-Badawi. Are there differences between the two of you?

Abdel Nour: Not at all, we trust each other. It is normal to differ on some issues since we are a part of a liberal, democratic party. In such a case, we discuss the issue and then reach an agreement.

Al-Masry: What is the most controversial issue you argue over?

Abdel Nour: We initially disagreed, for instance, on some candidates nominated by the party to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections, but we reached an accord eventually.

Al-Masry: But in your interview on al-Hurra channel, you said that “the Wafd Party is not a private property owned by al-Badawi for him to appoint Reda Edward as general-secretary [of the party]?

Abdel Nour: What I actually said was that the party is not private property, but rather a grand institution. I did not mention al-Badawi by name, I only explained that the general-secretary’s post was not vacant, and its occupant cannot be nominated by al-Badawi, but is rather elected according to the party’s regulations.

Al-Masry: Does Edward intend to run for the post?

Abdel Nour: He is welcome to do that. But let’s see how many votes he will obtain. No doubt I will beat him, this is logical.

Al-Masry: Are there any disagreements between you and Edward?

Abdel Nour: [Disapprovingly] Who is Reda Edward in the first place? I never dealt with him.

Al-Masry: Why did you object to Professor Souad Saleh joining the party?

Abdel Nour: Her views were at odds with the party’s basic principles.

Al-Masry: But she is seen as a moderate religious figure?

Abdel Nour: Religiously speaking, that’s true. But religion should not interfere with politics. When Saleh joined the party, she declared an intention to do preaching activities, which I refused, telling her that our party seeks solutions for the country’s political, economic, and social problems.

Al-Masry: Aren’t you supposed to accept different ideologies, as the member of a liberal party?

ِAbdel Nour: Liberalism does not mean that politics and religion intermingle.

Al-Masry: What do you think of the recent crisis resulting from the sale of Al-Dostour newspaper to al-Badawi?

Abdel Nour: The party is at such a distance from this issue, which I explained in a statement which stressed that this is al-Badawi’s own problem.

Al-Masry: Has the party seen any tangible developments after al-Badawi took office as chairman?

Abdel Nour: The development process is going along slowly and still needs time. No doubt the party has been enjoying much impetus and a surge in membership after its recently-held elections.

Al-Masry: You are counted as a member of the old team of former Wafd chairman Mahmoud Abaza?

Abdel Nour: I am a Wafd member and nothing else.

Al-Masry: Do you still have contact with Abaza?

Abdel Nour: On a daily basis, and I do the same with al-Badawi.

Al-Masry: What about attempts to marginalize your role after al-Badawi’s success in the elections?

Abdel Nour: A general-secretary is never marginalized, as he assumes his authority from the party’s regulations and works under an executive board.

Al-Masry: But you said you were bypassed when some decisions were adopted?

Abdel Nour: Maybe that is what some believed, but I never said so.

Al-Masry: Did you agree with al-Badawi concerning participation in the elections?

Abdel Nour: I have always been a supporter of participation, and I believe that to boycott would be a kind of withdrawal.

Al-Masry: But the party said it would consider a boycott if the regime does not yield to demands to amend the Constitution and ensure transparency?

Abdel Nour: Though I believe the upcoming elections will not guarantee equal chances, with the NDP acting as a contestant and an arbitrator simultaneously, I think that a boycott would cause a greater loss.

Al-Masry: Will you run for the People’s Assembly elections?

Abdel Nour: I can reply to this few days later.

Al-Masry: Some described the declaration by Wafd MP Alaa Abdel Moneim that he will boycott the election as an act of dissent?

Abdel Nour: There is no need to use such terms. He is free to participate or to boycott.

Al-Masry: You mean the party will not take any action against him?

Abdel Nour: Never. We are not dictators. Everybody is free.

Al-Masry: Did the party strike any deal with the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) concerning the parliamentary race?

Abdel Nour: What deal? The NDP will vie for 100 percent of the seats and will not make any deals. That’s pie in the sky.

Translated from the Arabic Edition.
 

Related Articles

Back to top button