Al Sisi is not a new Mubarak

After a long diplomatic career that led him to chair the Arab League, at 77, Amr Musa has turned in Egyptian politics. The disappointing outcome of his candidacy in the 2012 presidential election he kept himself in foreground. Musa was the president of the Constituent Assembly that drafted late last year the new constitution of the country during the election campaign and has served as senior advisor to Abdelfatá Sisi, the future president of Egypt.

Question. What is your assessment of past Egyptian elections?

Response. I think it was a well organized and clean process, without any manipulation, and has shown what the will of the Egyptian people. Al Sisi has earned a solid and clear majority.

Q. Some observers have noted that the turnout was very low, and that the official figure is not credible. Do you agree?

A. To begin with, the official turnout figure has not been so low. Voters about 26 million people, roughly the same number as in the 2012 elections. Regarding the possibility that it has been tampered with, there is no proof. The missions of international observers, including the European Union, have endorsed the elections.

Q. However, the mission of the EU also noted that there are not respecting the freedoms of association and expression entered in the new Constitution. For example, a delegate arrested Campaign Hamdin Sabbahi.

A. I do not know the details of this case. It should be understood that we are in a transition period, exceptional, and it is possible that errors will progressively be corrected with the passage of time committed. The new constitution creates a free and democratic country, what I call the Third Republic. It can not be coming from some European capitals require us to adopt a series of freedoms, and when we do, we come with new considerations. They only see what interests them.

Q. It seems that many young people did not vote because they think it is rebuilding the old rule of Mubarak. Does the government have a problem with the youth?

A. I disagree with the notion that most young people did not vote. In any case, those who think so, they have every right to do so. But I assure you that it will not establish a dictatorship like Mubarak. No turning back, it’s impossible. The Constitution is not like the others, establishes a set of rules that limit the powers of the State, and can only be moved within this framework.

Q. What are the main challenges that will face the new president?

A. To begin with, safety. You must solve the problem of terrorism, especially in the Sinai Peninsula. It is also crucial to boost the economy and revise state policies to improve the services provided. The state bureaucracy is a serious problem. Many of the shortcomings of Egypt derived from bad governance.

Q. Do you think it is possible to achieve stability without seeking a settlement of the conflict with political Islam?

R. The sequence is reversed: the consensus come when we managed to impose stability. Islamist movements, which do not represent more than 20% of Egyptian society, are to be moved. If the Muslim Brotherhood accept the rules of the game, nothing prevents them from standing for election and have dozens of MPs in Parliament. The Constitution does not exclude them. I think that could win elections and govern was very positive for Egypt and the region because it gave the people an idea of what your style of government and is eventually rejected it.

Q. How is the Sisi Abdelfatá?

A. It is a quiet, well-read man, who knows very well what the problems of Egypt are. Good listener and takes into account the views of his advisers. He is also a person with great determination. Some compare him to other presidents, but he is not a new Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak. Al Sisi has his own plans because we are in a different era.

Q. How would you define your ideology, your project for Egypt?

A. Your program is titled ” rebuild Egypt,” and that’s the main goal. Its focus on an optimistic view of the future. Al Sisi is not an ideologue, but rather a person with a practical mindset. On some issues, their proposals are close to the principles of the free market, but in others, on the left. At the stage we are in, we can not simply follow an ideology.

Q. Does occupying the prime minister?

A. What I understand is that Al Sisi asked the current Prime Minister to continue in office at least until the elections, and at most, there will be some minor changes in the cabinet. In the future, I see myself as part of the Egyptian political scene, but do not know in what position. My goal is only to serve Egypt.

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Posted by Khalil Khan on Jun 3 2014. Filed under Middle East. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.