The 25 January Revolution Youth Coalition is divided over which presidential candidate to back in the fast-approaching election, having failed thus far to reach consensus between Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Abul Ezz al-Hariry.
Mohamed al-Kassas, a member of the coalition’s executive bureau, expressed his personal support for moderate Islamist Abouel Fotouh during a rally for the independent candidate in Alexandria on Monday. Other coalition leaders, including Khaled Talleema, said Kassas’ statements did not represent the group's position and that the coalition had not agreed on a candidate.
Kassas told Al-Masry Al-Youm that he spoke during the rally as a member of the coalition. The coalition includes the April 6 Youth Movement, which has not made an endorsement, as well as the Youth for Freedom and Justice Movement and the Egyptian Current Party, which have announced their support for Abouel Fotouh. Kassas is also a founder of the Egyptian Current Party, which was created by a faction of Muslim Brotherhood youth who broke with the Islamist organization last year.
A poll on the coalition's Facebook page put Abouel Fotouh as the frontrunner with 91 percent, Kassas said.
Talleema said the poll was manipulated to show support for Abouel Fotouh that does not reflect the coalition's position.
The Ahmed Maher front of April 6 said it would hold a press conference on Wednesday to announce its endorsement.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
