Islamists in Egypt Back Timing of Military Transition

The Muslim Brotherhood decided to support Egypt’s interim cabinet remaining in power until after the presidential elections scheduled for June, according to a senior leader in the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice party. In an interview with David Kirkpatrick for the New York Times, party vice-Chairman Essam Al Erian said that once the constitution is written and the president elected “we can have the military back in their camps safely.” The current cabinet was appointed by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), and Islamists like Erian previously challenged its executive authority, suggesting that the power should be transferred quickly to the newly-elected parliament. Kirkpatrick argued that the decision to move away from a quick transition shows the Brotherhood does not want a major confrontation with the SCAF on this issue.

Islamists dominated the three rounds of voting for Egypt’s lower house of Parliament, the People’s Assembly. Leading the field is the Freedom and Justice party with just over 45 percent of the seats, followed by the conservative Salafi Al Nour party with over 25 percent, and the Wafd and Egyptian Bloc liberal coalitions, with 9 and 7 percent respectively. Without an outright majority the Brotherhood must decide whether to form a coalition government with its liberal or conservative rivals in parliament. Essam Al Erian stated that Freedom and Justice was willing to work with parties across the political spectrum, and dismissed concerns that the presence of the more conservative Salafis would pull the Brotherhood to the right. When asked whether the U.S. would deal with an Islamist government in Egypt, Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman said in an interview that “we will deal with any political party that ascribes to democratic principles”.