Egypt

Abouel Fotouh says won’t keep current military rulers in office if elected

Presidential hopeful Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh has said he would not keep members of Egypt’s ruling military council in office if he is elected president after the election slated for 23 and 24 May.

Speaking to media presenters Dina Abdel Rahman and Magdy al-Gallad on CBC satellite channel late Sunday, the moderate Islamist candidate stressed he is against keeping current military council members in their posts.

He said he would prefer instead to give the opportunity to younger, efficient military cadres.

Abouel Fotouh, a front-runner in the race according to polls, has support from both hardline fundamentalists and liberals.

The former Muslim Brotherhood leader denied striking any deals with Salafi groups in return for their support, adding that his campaign is more focused on “rebuilding the nation.”

Nour Party and the Jama’a al-Islamiya, the largest Salafi-oriented political groups, had declared their support for Abouel Fotouh after making internal votes — to the dismay of the Brotherhood, which had pinned hopes on Salafi support for its own candidate, Mohamed Morsy.

Abouel Fotouh voiced his opinion on Egyptian laws that prohibit establishing religious political parties. He said there are no religious parties in Egypt in a sense that limits party membership to a specific religious sect, but rather there are parties with religious orientations.

“Egyptians, Muslims and Christians alike, are religious by nature. They are not required to disbelieve in their God to please a small group of extremist secularists,” he said.

Abouel Fotouh overlooked the influence of his main rival, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, saying if Moussa gives up his presidential bid, he would win by 5 to 10 percent.

As for the arts, Abouel Fotouh said he used to go to cinemas and theaters. He said he had watched a theatrical performance of Shakespeare’s King Lear years ago. He said his favorite comedian is Mohamed Sobhy, but added that this has nothing to do with Sobhy’s support for his campaign.

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