By Heba Fahmy
CAIRO: A Muslim Brotherhood member who had advocated for a presidential run for one of the group’s leaders months ago, says he still stands by his virtual campaign, despite contradictory statements by the group.
Abdallah Al Rifaei told Daily News Egypt that he supports nominating member of the MB Guidance Office and Secretary General of the Arab Doctors’ Union Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh as Egypt’s next president, despite the Brotherhood’s announcement that it will not contest the presidential race.
“Aboul Fotouh is a prominent member of the community and all the people agree that he’s a trustworthy, respectable man who has an honorable history in the Arab Doctors’ Union.” he told DNE.
Aboul Fotouh is considered by many a temperate force within the group.
“As a member of the brotherhood, I wanted to choose someone that would be approved by (all Egyptians),” Al-Rifaei said.
Al-Rifaei launched a Facebook group supporting Aboul Fotouh as Egypt’s upcoming president around eight months long before the revolution broke out on Jan 25. The group garnered 386 members.
The Brotherhood announced that it would not seek the presidency or a majority in parliament after ousted President Mubarak stepped down on Feb. 11.
However Rifaei stressed that he will sustain the group and continue to support Aboul Fotouh as Egypt’s coming President.
“We want to pressure the brotherhood to nominate a candidate representing them in the upcoming Presidential elections and present an alternative to the former regime,” he explained.
Rashad Bayoumi, deputy MB leader, told DNE, “We stand by our official statements and we consider them final …We will not nominate anyone in the Presidential elections.”
“We don’t seek power like Mubarak’s former regime used to depict us,” Bayoumi added
“Many political powers question the Brotherhood’s commitment to their statements regarding seeking power in Egypt,” Hossam Tammam, a researcher of Islamist movements told DNE.
“However, I believe that even if Aboul Fotouh agrees to run for president, he will not be representing the Brotherhood and his nomination won’t be supported by MB leaders,” he added.
