Audio By Carbonatix
Egypt's top political parties have agreed to nominate a member of the Muslim Brotherhood as the nation's next parliament speaker, the first time in decades that an Islamist would hold that post.
The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party won more than 40% of the seats in recent elections and is expected to lead the country's first parliament chosen since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak.
The FJP-led alliance nominated its secretary-general, Mohamed al-Katatni, as parliament speaker.
Al-Katatni, described as a moderate on the Brotherhood's website, was detained by Mubarak's state security forces together with FJP leaders Essam El-Erian and Mohamed Morsi, the chairman of the FJP.
The parliament, which will be seated later this month, must appoint a 100-member panel to write a new Egyptian constitution. Presidential elections are set for June.
Liberals fear that electoral gains for Islamists will steer Egypt down a rigid path away from democracy.
Morsi tried to reassure Egyptians that the new constitution "will be drafted without exemption of any stakeholders or exclusion of any parties, forces or currents."
"We continue the march of the peaceful revolution, the Egyptian revolution of January 25, which has achieved some of its objectives and as yet continues to achieve remaining ones," he said. "There is no doubt that the parliamentary election results were expressive of all Egyptians and their free will, the new parliament, too."
The agreement, signed Monday by six leading political parties, also allows the hardline Al Nour party and the liberal Al Wafd party to nominate two deputy speakers.
But Al Wafd was not present at the meeting and did not sign the agreement.
"We were not informed of about the meeting and will announce our decision after our board meeting on Thursday," Bahaa Abu Shaka, Al Wafd's deputy chief, told CNN.
The new parliament convenes a year after popular revolts erupted, eventually leading to Mubarak's downfall.
The longtime dictator is on trial on charges of corruption and ordering the deaths of hundreds of protesters.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has led Egypt's government since Mubarak's fall. It has said it will hand over power to a new government once one is in place.
But the transition has not been quick or transparent enough for some Egyptians. A series of protests in Cairo last month resulted in violent and sometimes deadly clashes between demonstrators and soldiers.
Gen. Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, who heads the Supreme Council, is expected to address the new parliament, according to the Morals Affairs Military Department.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Former Germany boss Joachim Low dismisses Black Stars linksÂ
40 seconds -
Nkaseim Traditional Council backs gov’t’s responsible cooperative mining program to tackle youth unemployment
40 seconds -
Chief of Staff calls for resilient, long-term thinking in Ghanaian businesses
11 minutes -
Several feared dead in Kwashieman road accident
13 minutes -
MPs push to bar candidates above 65 from Parliament
13 minutes -
Airport tax revenue shrinks by GH₵400m, misses 2025 target by 20%
15 minutes -
Kwahu Business Forum 2026: Ghana targets manufacturing hub status in West Africa – Chief of Staff
18 minutes -
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid writes: Thinking about the clergy, religion and politics
23 minutes -
Gattuso resigns as Italy manager after World Cup failure
25 minutes -
Calls grow within NPP to halt use of Bawumia’s name in internal campaigns
27 minutes -
Odauhene cautions against acts that undermine historical ties with Okyenhene
35 minutes -
Kwahu Business Forum 2026: Chief of Staff urges stronger government-business partnerships
1 hour -
Ibrahim Mahama flies old private jet abroad to be turned into air ambulance
1 hour -
Ashanti North police seize large quantity of suspected narcotics in Offinso, four arrested
2 hours -
Two feared dead, 28 rescued in Kwashieman crash on Good Friday
2 hours
