Egyptian Islamic parties to secure big majority

MUSLIM FUNDAMENTALISTS are set to enjoy an overwhelming majority in Egypt’s first democratically elected parliament.

Projections by the Egypt Independent website show the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party, garnering 213 seats, while the second largest ultra-orthodox Salafi Noor Party could secure 111.

The Construction and Development Party established by Jamaa Islamiya has claimed 13 seats.

These figures could be slightly altered after the run-off in nine of Egypt’s 27 provinces taking place this week.

Other projections show Wasat, a centrist party founded by dissident Muslim brothers, winning at least half a dozen seats. If these figures are correct, fundamentalists could hold 343 of the 498 elected seats, or nearly 69 per cent.

The secular Egyptian Bloc, which expected to be third largest, has won at least 12 seats, the same number as Reform and Development, a party established by members of the outlawed former ruling party. Ten seats will be appointed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which assumed presidential powers after the ousting of Hosni Mubarak.

The Democratic Alliance, dominated by Freedom and Justice, expects to begin talks with the aim of forming a majority coalition.

The secular Wafd Party, which finished third with 37 seats and Construction and Development are seeking to join this grouping, reported the Egypt Independent, giving it about 271 seats.

Two names have apparently been advanced for the speakership, Freedom and Justice secretary general Saad al-Katany and Alliance co-ordinator Wahid Abdel Maguid.

Freedom and Justice deputy chairman Essam al-Erian said the party intends to form a coalition government that would fight corruption in the administration and restructure the police. He said, however, that this government would not be formed until mid-year when the SCAF is slated to hand power to a newly-elected president.

He urged all parties to back the current government under SCAF-appointed Kamal Ganzouri until the transition is completed. Mr Erian’s statements make it clear that Freedom and Justice has no intention of challenging the military over the timing of the transfer and the present interim cabinet’s continuation in office.

It remains to be seen, however, if the party will attempt to force the SCAF to alter its plan to appoint 80 of the 100 members of the commission due to draft a new constitution. Although Freedom and Justice does not wish to adopt a collision course with the military, the party is determined, especially if it is successful in forming a majority coalition, to have a major say in the constitution.

While the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis have tried to reassure secular liberals and Coptic Christians by pledging to seek consensus on legislation, neither are convinced of the fundamentalists’ bona fides. Confidence in them has been, to a certain extent, undermined by the formation of Saudi-inspired puritanical elements of committees for the enforcement of Muslim canon law, giving rise to speculation that they could impose their agenda on more moderate religious parties.