Muslim Brotherhood Shura Council member Medhat al-Haddad has denied that communication with the military junta would necessarily mean striking political deals.
“The conversations aim to find a way out of the current political crisis,” he said.
Haddad agreed that the army should appoint the defense minister and decide on its own budget.
“The political situation warrants this at the moment,” he said. “Parliament’s Defense Committee would discuss the budget anyway.”
Brotherhood sources had said the group is negotiating with the military council for the latter to control its own budget and internal affairs in return for it conceding its right to object to the formation of the Constituent Assembly, provided that ten of its Islamist members are replaced by technocrats favored by the army.
The military would also agree to give the Finance and Foreign Affairs Ministries to the Brotherhood, which would not have anything to do with the Defense, Interior and Justice Ministries. An army general would also be appointed to manage the financial affairs of the presidency.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
