Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, a potential presidential candidate and Muslim Brotherhood leader, said he intends to depend on donations from ordinary Egyptian for his presidential campaign and would not use foreign sources of funding.
So far, none of the other candidates for presidency have announced how they plan to finance their presidential campaigns. Traditionally, Egypt's politicians have relied on their own personal wealth or that of a few wealthy sponsors.
Fotouh, who froze his membership in the Muslim Brotherhood last week, said he would open a bank account for Egyptians to donate to his campaign.
At his meeting with the Egyptian community in London on Sunday, Fotouh said expatriate Egyptians should be given the right to vote. Approximately 7 to 8 million Egyptians live overseas, he added.
"I'm optimistic that Egyptians won’t allow any one group or party to drag it back to the past, away from freedom, democracy and social justice."
He added that there is a need for Egyptians to restore confidence in each other.
“We need optimism and hope for a better future for Egypt,” he said.
Amr Moussa, the outgoing Arab League chief and another potential candidate for the presidency, stonewalled last week on the question on how he would finance his presidential campaign.
Moussa, however, is one of the most active presidential candidates. Last month, he toured Egypt and last week, he visited France where he met with members of the Egyptian community there.
Ayman Nour, leader of the Ghad Party and another likely presidential candidate, last week urged Egyptians to give donations to candidates for the presidency.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
