The Salafi Nour Party and the Muslim Brotherhood will likely coordinate in choosing a candidate to support in the presidential race, Younis Makhyoun, a senior member of the Nour Party, told state-run Al-Akhbar newspaper Monday.
Egyptian presidential elections are scheduled for 23 and 24 May. Candidacy applications will be received from 10 March to 8 April.
The Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and the Nour Party, who occupy the majority of seats in Parliament, have not yet endorsed a presidential candidate and have been reserved in revealing their preferences.
"It [coordination] has not happened yet, but cannot be ruled out," Makhyon told Al-Akhbar. "The Nour Party has not decided on its preferred candidate. We will declare our final decision after the candidacy period is over."
Makhyoun said the Nour Party requires that the candidate have an Islamic background, and is neither secular nor liberal.
"If a Salafi is appointed as prime minister, Egypt will achieve self-sufficiency in wheat plantation and attention will be given to small and medium enterprises," Makhyoun added. "The Nour Party possesses a clear strategy in economy and trade, as well as experts and university professors in all fields. Our program is available on the party's website."
Makhyoun said his party will work on reforming the state’s administrative system to be a meritocracy, instead of being based on nepotism or loyalty, as was the case under the former regime.
On Saturday, senior FJP member Hassan al-Beshbeshy told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the Brotherhood and Salafis are 90 percent sure they will support Hossam al-Gheriany, head of the Supreme Council for the Judiciary, for president, adding that Gheriany meets all the conditions set by the Brotherhood.
