Islamic parties will not win more than 25 percent of the votes in Egypt's elections, said presidential hopeful Hisham al-Bastawisy during a meeting with the Egyptian community in Paris late on Saturday.
The Muslim Brotherhood announced earlier it would contest 50 percent of parliamentary seats through the Freedom and Justice Party during elections slated for September.
Many Islamic parties, including those affiliated with the Salafis, have expressed intentions to take part in parliamentary elections.
Bastawisy also renewed calls for writing the constitution ahead of holding parliamentary elections, saying “We cannot vote for members of parliament before having a constitution. The constitution is meant to identify roles of institutions in Egypt.”
He stressed the necessity of setting rules for forming the committee that will write the constitution, which should be decided by consensus, not majority.
He also called for holding parliamentary and presidential elections after writing the constitution, thereby ending the interim period after 6 months, as previously agreed.
Bastawisy hinted that he would have his vice president appointed through elections, in the event he became president.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
