Free Egyptians Party dismisses joining pro-Sisi parliamentary bloc

The liberal Free Egyptians Party announced on Friday that it had declined to join a pro-Sisi parliamentary bloc that is currently being formed, saying its aims were unclear.

In a statement, the liberal party said that the constitution, law and political science defined the meaning of coalition, but the party did not understand the aims of the “pro-Egyptian state” coalition that is being formed, or its programme.

“Egypt’s law and constitution support partisan pluralism,” the statement read.

A number of political parties and independent MPs announced earlier this week that they would join a parliamentary bloc called the pro-Egyptian state coalition, led by Sameh Seif El-Yazal, a former intelligence officer and the coordinator of the “For the Love of Egypt” pro-Sisi electoral list, which won the 120 party list seats available in the elections.

According to El-Yazal, the intended bloc will serve as support for President Al-Sisi and will “reinforce Egypt’s political stability in a region plagued with civil wars and sectarian strife.”

El-Yazal also said that the bloc does not aim to turn the House of Representatives into a rubber-stamp parliament, as it would fully exercise parliamentary supervisory powers to defend the interests of citizens.

The Free Egyptians Party won nearly 65 seats in this autumn’s parliamentary elections, including 8 seats as part of the “For the Love of Egypt” list. It has the most representatives of any party in the legislature.

source: Ahram Online