By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Presidential hopeful Mohamed ElBaradei said that the transitional period is “difficult” and that he is “concerned” about the course of the revolution. He demanded that the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) give the new Cabinet the necessary authorities to achieve the goals of the revolution.
ElBaradei said in a press conference Monday at the headquarters of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party that the main challenges facing Egypt now is the security vacuum that is preventing economic recovery and the absence of a clear roadmap for the transitional period.
“The priority for this transitional period is agreeing on the regulations governing the constituent assembly that will draft the new constitution, having free and fair elections and electing a representative parliament that reflects the revolutionary Egypt,” he said.
ElBaradei said that postponing elections to November gives more time for new parties to prepare. Yet, he was concerned that the elections law has not been issued yet and that discussions are still underway regarding whether the constitution will be drafted ahead of the presidential elections.
He called for a “roadmap” for the transitional period with a specific time schedule.
“There is a lot of political and constitutional chaos; the transitional period requires consensus and we need to unify people to establish a civil and democratic state in which social justice is achieved,” he said.
ElBaradei said that the constituent assembly that will draft the constitution should have a balanced representation of all national powers.
He said that all powers agreed on having a civil state and said that whoever disagrees with this is outside the national consensus.
He commented on the Cabinet reshuffle as “only a change in faces” adding that we need a change in policies and called on the SCAF to give the new government all authorities.
“The SCAF has the legislative and executive authorities and but has no experience with it, so they should consider the government as their consultant and executive arm,” ElBaradei said.
He said that people have a right to protest and so he cannot tell the protesters in Tahrir Square whether to leave or stay.
“The fact that there is a million man protest every Friday means that the people believe that the revolution’s objectives were not achieved yet,” ElBaradei said.
“The legitimacy comes from the people, but the people need to rise above their personal interests and look ahead to the future as the upcoming period will decide Egypt’s future for years to come,” he added.
He demanded swift justice, the cleansing of the interior ministry and the focus on social justice.
ElBaradei, who visited the headquarters of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) on Sunday, denied support for the Democratic Alliance which comprises 28 parties led the Islamist FJP and the Liberal Al-Wafd. He added that there is a need for national unity and that he can’t favor one coalition over another.
