Muslim Brotherhood of eliminating other political powers in Egypt from
the decision making process.
(AFP Photo)
National Salvation Front (NSF) leader Mohamed ElBaradei accused the
Muslim Brotherhood of eliminating other political powers in Egypt from
the decision making process.
“They are putting up barriers, which is not helping,” he said, adding
that although the Brotherhood previously showed a willingness to
negotiate with the opposition, they went back on their agreement and
decided to act independently.
The former director of the International Atomic Energy Agency and
Noble Prize winner gave an interview to Reuters and the Associated
Press about the current situation in Egypt.
ElBaradei focused on the $4.8bn loan Egypt hopes to obtain from the
International Monetary Fund (IMF). “The loan is an essential step to
economic recovery,” he said.
He added that the Egyptian government should seek a political
settlement with the opposition in the interests of obtaining the loan.
“Success here depends on a political agreement, without an agreement
there will be no stability and without stability the wheel of the
economy will not turn. This will lead to angry, hungry people,”
ElBaradei said.
Some opposition leaders, including former presidential candidate and
NSF leader Hamdeen Sabahy, are against the loan. ElBaradei said that
such a stance could change if the Brotherhood worked to obtain an
agreement between political groups.
“If different political parties sat with the government and had an
open, honest dialogue about the options we have, I don’t think it’s
impossible that they could change their minds and accept the loan,” he
added.
The NSF had previously stated three preconditions for dialogue with
the presidency: the replacement of Prime Minister Hesham Qandil’s
government, the appointment of an independent Prosecutor General, and
a committee to draft a new election law.
The Muslim Brotherhood spokesperson could not be reached for comment.
