Former presidential hopeful and leftist activist Khaled Ali announced Sunday in a press conference he would not run for president, describing the upcoming elections as a farce.
Ali called on army generals to stay away from politics. "We want an army that is elevated above political disputes and protects but does not rule [the country], as its intervention in politics is dangerous to everybody," he said.
"We will not take part in a farce…do not fool us. Shut down the puppet theater as we will not make any deals," he added.
"We do not call for confronting the army. Our demands are to confront your lust for power," Ali said. "We are against theocratic and police states, and we support social justice," he said, pointing out that he disapproves of deaths suffered by both the Muslim Brotherhood and security personnel.
"Leaders of the labor movement are subjected to torture… I appeal to media and political forces and parties to open prison files," Ali said. Former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Sami Anan announced last week he would not run in the presidential race as well.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
