By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Presidential hopeful Mohamed ElBaradei and the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) agreed Sunday on guidelines for the formation of a representative constituent assembly that will draft Egypt’s new constitution following pending general elections.
ElBaradei, the first presidential candidate to visit FJP’s headquarters to formally congratulate its leaders on their newly-established party, agreed with the FJP’s general secretary, Saad El-Katatny, and deputy head, Essam El-Erian, that the assembly should include members from outside the elected parliament.
“We want to see Egypt go through the transitional period smoothly and in an organized way and we must agree on the objectives of guaranteeing freedoms and rights, and resort to dialogue to resolve our differences regarding the course of action in this period,” ElBaradei said.
He said that the Muslim Brotherhood is working with the people to help draft a representative constitution.
El-Erian said that they agreed that achieving a democratic transition within the next five years and overcoming ideological disputes are a priority.
“We shouldn’t dig up our differences and should perform the role expected from us in achieving real change in Egypt and agree on the things we have in common,” he said.
The meeting did not tackle the FJP’s possible endorsement of ElBaradei in his presidential bid.
El-Erian said that the Democratic Alliance, which comprises 28 parties from across the political spectrum, had reached consensus regarding the draft PA law and the bill of constitutional principles that will act as a framework for the new constitution.
“We are now discussing how to contest the legislative elections, whether in a unified list or not. If we agree, I anticipate a huge turnout in the elections that might reach 30 million voters,” he said.
ElBaradei said that he will try to convince more political parties to join the Alliance.
The Democratic Alliance currently includes Al-Wafd, Nasserist, Al-Ghad, Al-Karama, Al-Tagammu, Labor, Freedom and Justice, Al-Geel, Al-Ahrar and the Egyptian Arab Socialist parties, as well as, Al-Fadila and Al-Tawheed Al-Araby Salafi parties.
The Democratic Front, Free Egyptians and Egyptian Democratic and Social parties refused to join the alliance because of the presence of “non-liberal” powers and said they are forming their own coalitions.
Liberal, leftist and some national powers are mainly pushing for drafting the constitution ahead of the elections while Islamic powers are demanding “commitment to the results of the referendum” by having elections first and then the elected parliament would draft the constitution.
Al-Tagammu Party accused in a statement Sunday Islamist political currents of “incitement” against protesters in Tahrir Square and warned Al-Wafd Party against entering an electoral alliance with the FJP.
The party claimed that Islamist groups refuse the idea of a civil state, and called for national currents to unite in demanding that a constitution is drafted ahead of the elections.
“This debate wasted a lot of time that could have been put to better use in villages and rural areas to built party support instead,” El-Erian said.
He said that the FJP had proposed some candidates to PM Essam Sharaf for the new cabinet.
Presidential hopeful Amr Moussa is set to pay a similar visit to the FJP headquarters upon his request.
