Elections monitor: Muslim Brotherhood announces electoral program

“The Muslim Brotherhood challenges everyone and raises the slogan 'Islam is the solution'," reads a headline in privately-owned Al-Shorouk. The paper reports the group confirmed its official slogan in an electoral program announcement.

In a full-page interview in privately-owned Youm 7, Speaker of the Parliament Ahmed Fathi Sorour said the ban on religiously-based political activity will weaken the Brotherhood’s chances in this year’s elections. Sorour emphasized the difference between using faith-driven religious sayings and the adoption of a religiously-oriented political program. The latter, he argued, violates Article 5 of the Constitution and relies on “tricking” voters, especially since religion, according to Marx, is the "opium of the masses," Sorour said.

In addition to challenging some of the guidelines set forth by the electoral commission, the Brotherhood’s relationship with other opposition forces seems uncertain at best. Although there are signs of coordination with some opposition candidates, some accuse the Brotherhood of undermining opposition efforts for broader change. Writing for the privately-owned Youm 7, Issam Ismail argues the Muslim Brotherhood overpowered the National Association for Change, effectively using it as a vehicle for its own political goals.

Abdul Halim Kandil, general coordinator for the Kefaya movement, said the Muslim Brotherhood wants to postpone change, a position he said is evidenced by its intended election participation.

Muslim Brotherhood coordination with opposition candidates ahead of the November elections has been spotty. State-run Rose al-Youssef reports that the Wafd Party’s final slate of candidates reflects some degree of coordination with the Muslim Brotherhood. The Wafd president has said he does not oppose coordination on individual levels.

The Muslim Brotherhood and the Wafd Party have successfully coordinated in some districts but failed in others. The coordination was successful in several districts including Dokki and Bagour in Cairo, Ibrahimiya in Sharqiya, Tamia in Fayoum, and Kafr al-Zayat. At the same time, coordination efforts fell apart in some districts, despite indications of coordination in the Wafd’s initial list of candidates.

In the second district in Ismailiya, Wafd party candidate Sami Ahmed Mohamed will be competing against Brotherhood candidate Hamdi Ismail. In the Alexandria district of Mena al-Basal, Wafd candidate Mohamed Ghafar Abul Dawh will be competing with a Brotherhood candidate over the professionals seat.

Wafd’s honorary president, Mustafa al-Tawil, argued that there is no harm in coordinating with the Muslim Brotherhood since this simply signifies a “pragmatic” arrangement, which essentially constitutes an “alliance with the devil” but aims for parliamentary gains. Despite the limited nature of the alliance, al-Tawil expressed skepticism that the Brotherhood would not keep its promises to the Wafd.

Youm 7 reports that the Muslim Brotherhood Guidance Bureau convinced Nehad Kassem–one its wealthiest members in Beni Suef–not to run for the professionals seat in the district of Beba against current Karama party representative Saad Aboud. At the same time, however, the Muslim Brotherhood will be competing against both the Karama party and the NDP for the workers seat in the same district.

Similarly, the Brotherhood, the NDP, and the Tagammu Party are all competing over the professionals seat in the district of Abdin-Moski, reports privately-owned Al-Dostour.

Brotherhood-NDP competition continues in several districts. Youm 7 reports that two police generals are vying for the professionals seat against the head of the Brotherhood parliamentary bloc, Mohamed Saad al-Katatni. Another Youm 7 report says NDP candidate Ahmed Ghoneim is the only individual capable of confronting the Muslim Brotherhood in the district of Hadaek al-Kobba. Ghoneim has defeated some Muslim Brotherhood cadres in the past, including former supreme guide Mohamed Mahdi Akef in 1995.

Notably, the Muslim Brotherhood faces competition from its own ranks as well. State-run Al-Ahram reports that the only candidate that the Brotherhood excluded in Alexandria–namely Ossama Gado–decided to run as an independent against Muslim Brotherhood candidate Tahir Abdul Hassan in the Ghirbal district.