On April 29, People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny proposed suspending parliamentary sessions for a week over the Cabinet’s refusal to resign. Hours after the statement, state media reported that the SCAF is expected to conduct a limited Cabinet reshuffle that could include the appointment of Islamists, prompting the Brotherhood’s parliamentary bloc to back down from calls for dissolving the cabinet. 158 MPs including liberal independent Amr Hamzawy signed a statement rejecting al-Katatny’s proposal. Hamzawy stated in an interview, “Ganzouri’s cabinet is not the problem, but the real one is dealing with the elections and reaching an agreement on the wording of the constitution,” warning against efforts to use parliament as a tool in the struggle between the SCAF and Muslim Brotherhood.
ELECTIONS:
1) Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi’s campaign was dealt a blow after his Islamist rival Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh won official endorsements from the moderate Islamist Wasat Party, Salafi groups and al-Gama’a al-Islamiya. [Egypt Independent, English, 4/30/2012] [Egypt Independent, English, 4/30/2012] [al-Ahram, English, 4/30/2012]
2) A new opinion poll conducted by the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies shows Amr Moussa leading the presidential race with the support of 41.1 percent of the 1,200 Egyptians surveyed. Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh came in second with 27.3 percent of the votes, followed by Ahmed Shafiq with 11.9 percent. Hamdeen Sabbahi received 7.4 percent, Selim al-Awa received 5.7 percent, and the Brotherhood’s candidate Mohamed Morsi trailed behind with only 3.6 percent. [al-Ahram, English, 4/30/2012]
PARLIAMENT:
3) On April 29, People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny proposed suspending parliamentary sessions for a week over the Cabinet’s refusal to resign. Hours after the statement, state media reported that the SCAF is expected to conduct a limited Cabinet reshuffle that could include the appointment of Islamists, prompting the Brotherhood’s parliamentary bloc to back down from calls for dissolving the cabinet. 158 MPs including liberal independent Amr Hamzawy signed a statement rejecting al-Katatny’s proposal. Hamzawy stated in an interview, “Ganzouri’s cabinet is not the problem, but the real one is dealing with the elections and reaching an agreement on the wording of the constitution,” warning against efforts to use parliament as a tool in the struggle between the SCAF and Muslim Brotherhood. [Egypt Independent, English, 4/30/2012] [Egypt Independent, English, 4/30/2012] [al-Youm al-Saba’a, Arabic, 4/30/2012]
FOREIGN POLICY:
4) Presidential candidate Amr Moussa stated that the Camp David Accord “is dead and buried,” but said that Egypt will honor the Saudi-sponsored Arab League peace plan of 2002, which proposed Arab peace and recognition of Israel in exchange for Israeli withdrawal to 1967 lines, an agreed solution to the Palestinian refugee issue, and acceptance of the formation of an independent Palestinian state. In response to Moussa’s comments, State Department Spokesperson Victoria Nuland said that the U.S. “will not respond to individual comments within the context of presidential campaigns in Egypt.” [al-Youm al-Saba’a, Arabic, 4/30/2012] [Times of Israel, English, 4/30/2012]
ECONOMY:
5) Field Marshal Tantawi announced that the armed forces will allocate LE250 million toward implementing development projects in the Sinai Peninsula. [Egypt Independent, English, 4/30/2012]
Photo Credit: CS Monitor
Image: 1207-Egypt-military-new-parliament_full_600_0.jpg