Egypt opposition divided over whether to boycott elections
By Richard Spencer
In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, Amr Moussa said that pressure was growing for a boycott to be announced after Tuesday's meeting of the opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front.
One of his fellow leaders, Mohammed ElBaradei, has already called on his followers not to participate in the elections, which are due to take place over several rounds starting in April.
Mr Moussa said he would prefer his colleagues to consult before reaching a decision, an implicit criticism of Mr ElBaradei, who has repeatedly used Twitter to declare opposition positions. Mr Moussa said some wanted the elections to be postponed or boycotted, but added: "A third part are still reluctant and want to get into an electoral battle."
The Front made what many of its supporters see as a tactical error before the constitutional referendum last November. It originally indicated that it would stage a boycott but agreed to participate at the last minute – calling for a "no" vote but with a minimal amount of campaigning. Only a third voted "no" and analysts said that the outcome would have been more favourable if the Front had taken a more coherent position on the referendum.
Many of the Front's leftist and secular supporters think that they could now profit from a perceived collapse in support for President Mohamed Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood Party.
Several major Egyptian cities are in open insurrection, with general strikes and demonstrations shutting down industry and public facilities, particularly in protest against well-publicised acts of police brutality. A victory in elections that the opposition refused to participate in would likely bring more of the increasingly violent protests.
Mr Moussa said he backed the Front's call for Mr Morsi to announce a national unity government, adding: "My personal preference when it comes to elections is always to run and to join in the electoral process, but Egypt is going through special circumstances most of them negative. The priorities are confused."
Mr ElBaradei wrote on Twitter: "Called for parliamentary election boycott in 2010 to expose sham democracy. Today I repeat my call, will not be part of an act of deception."
telegraph
|