The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party demanded the right to form the new national salvation government following early indicators that the party won the most seats in parliament.
“It is the majority in parliament that has the right to form the government,” said the party’s legal adviser Ahmed Abu Baraka.
He also said that Major General Mamdouh Shahin, member of the military council, was wrong when he said the parliamentary majority does not have the right to form the government. “Shahin probably meant to calm the public by saying that,” he said.
As to whether this would lead to a clash between the Brotherhood and the ruling military council, Abu Baraka dismissed the possibility as inconsequential.
“We have always had clashes with the military,” he said.
Meanwhile, Salafi parties criticized the Muslim Brotherhood, saying the new government should comprise all trends, be they Islamist, liberal, left-wing or Christian.
”It’s premature for the Brotherhood to claim that right,” said Yousry Hammad, spokesman for the Salafi Nour Party.
Refaat al-Sayed, former president of the Assiut Judges Club, explained that the constitutional declaration granted the president the right to form a new government.
Wafd Party spokesman Mohamed Shordy said his party would not enter into a coalition with the Brotherhood. “We are keen on national unity, and we denounce the Church and the Islamists for urging the electorate to vote based on religion,” he said.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
