The 6 April Youth Movement has elected Amr Ali to be the group’s new coordinator to replace Ahmed Maher, who is stepping down from the post.
The group announced the results at a press conference on Monday following elections that took place over the last week across all governorates of Egypt, according to the group’s media director Khaled El-Masry.
Ali, an accountant from Menufiya, overcame his opponent Fady El-Masry by winning 55.6% of the vote.
Both Ali and El-Masry have been members of the movement since it began in 2008. In the past, Ali has been responsible for the movement’s community work and was a member of the group’s political bureau for three years, according to El-Masry.
The media director said that after the polling closed, there was a review of the results, which prompted a re-election in the governorates of Assiut and North Sinai.
Maher, who will continue his work within the group’s general management office, spoke to state owned Al-Ahram about his time as coordinator of the movement. He said that mistakes had been made during his time, including the departure of the movement from Tahrir Square following former President Hosni Mubarak’s resignation in February 2011 and supporting former President Mohamed Morsi in the 2012 presidential elections. He added that there was a “silver lining” to the latter decision in that it revealed the real Muslim Brotherhood and their vision for ruling Egypt.
The group has been working towards holding elections for the last two years, said El-Masry, but due to the events in Egypt over that time period, it was not possible.
El-Masry said Ali will hold the post of coordinator for two years and his duties are, “to represent the movement politically and in the media and in conferences. He is also responsible for ensuring all plans and strategies are implemented properly.”
Ali has a “vision for the future” of the movement, said El-Masry, and Ali expects to work on organisation within the group “to accomplish the movement’s dreams for Egypt.”
