The SCAF issued a defiant statement on February 9, asserting that Egypt’s international relations with the US are governed by the common interests of both parties, and that "Egypt does not bow to the domination of anyone." The SCAF reiterated that the NGO case is in the hands of the judiciary, noting that the Ministry of Justice had found “damning evidence” against groups accused of undermining Egypt’s stability.
1) As 40 political movements and parties call for a civil disobedience campaign and nationwide strikes starting on February 11, SCAF member Sami Anan reiterated the military’s pledge to hand over power to civilian leadership immediately after the presidential elections. The SCAF agreed on February 8 to move up the start date for the presidential nomination period to March 10. [al-Masry al-Youm, English, 2/9/2012] [al-Youm al-Saba’a, Arabic, 2/9/2012]
2) The Muslim Brotherhood and most major Islamist groups have rejected calls for a civil disobedience campaign starting February 11. Al-Gama’a al-Islamiyya, the moderate Islamist Wasat Party, and the Islamist presidential candidate Mohamed Selim al-Awa have all denounced the campaign and said they will not participate. [al-Masry al-Youm, English, 2/9/2012]
3) The April 6 Youth Movement and Revolutionary Youth Coalition are leading calls for a nationwide civil disobedience campaign and issued statements insisted that it is their constitutional right to stage a general strike. [al-Youm al-Saba’a, Arabic, 2/9/2012] [al-Shorouk, Arabic, 2/9/2012]
4) The Muslim Brotherhood has urged the SCAF to dismiss Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri’s military-appointed government, saying it has failed to manage the deteriorating security and economic situation in the country. Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghozlan said the military should appoint a Brotherhood representative prime minister, who would then form a new coalition government. [AP, English, 2/9/2012]
5) Parliamentary Speaker Saad al-Katatny reprimanded a Salafi MP, Mamdouh Ismail, for reciting the call to prayer during a legislative session, telling him “you are no more of a Muslim than I am.” In the televised exchange, al-Kataty told Mamdouh that he had violated protocol by interrupting the session to recite the call for afternoon prayer. [Reuters, English, 2/9/2012]
6) The Muslim Brotherhood’s internal Shura Council is meeting with leaders of the Freedom and Justice Party to discuss to draw up plans for the formation of a new government, based on the proportional representation of parties in the People’s Assembly. [al-Youm al-Saba’a, Arabic, 2/9/2012]
7) In less than two weeks since its first session, the People’s Assembly has asserted extensive “monitoring powers” to hold the interim government accountable, including the formation of fact-finding committees and the authority to call for a vote of no confidence. According to Karama Party MP Saad Aboud, a memBer of the fact-finding committee looking into the Port Said violence, "Parliament now has the power to ask a minister in for questioning and accuse him as well, leading up to a vote of no confidence.” The no confidence vote requires a two-thirds majority to pass. In recent days, the national security and defense committees have submitted a list of recommendations to the government, some of which have already been implemented: separating members of Mubarak’s regime in Tora Prison and moving the former president to the prison hospital. One of the 18 specialized sub-committees in parliament is responsible for following up on whether recommendations are respected by the executive branch. Most committees are dominated by MPs from the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and the Salafi-oriented Nour Party, not only because they are the two biggest parties in the People’s Assembly, but also because other parties boycotted the committee elections over opposition to the large number of nominations submitted by the FJP. [al-Masry al-Youm, English, 2/9/2012]
8) The SCAF issued a defiant statement on February 9, asserting that Egypt’s international relations with the US are governed by the common interests of both parties, and that "Egypt does not bow to the domination of anyone." The SCAF reiterated that the NGO case is in the hands of the judiciary, noting that the Ministry of Justice had found “damning evidence” against groups accused of undermining Egypt’s stability. [al-Ahram, English, 2/9/2012]
9) Egypt’s annual inflation rose a monthly 0.15 per cent in January 2012, accelerating an overall one-year increase of 10.5 percent. [al-Ahram, English, 2/9/2012]
Photo Credit: AFP
Image: scaf.jpg