Several key figures appear to be emerging as potential presidential candidates with support from Egypt's Islamist political community.
Essam Sultan, the vice-president of the Wasat Party, announced on Sunday his support for Islamic thinker Selim al-Awa in the upcoming presidential elections, a move that has drawn fire from Sultan's colleagues within the party.
“Al-Awa has no political experience,” said Mohamed Tahawy, co-founder of the Wasat Party.
A number of prominent Salafis, meanwhile, have announced their support for Hazem Salah Abu Ismail.
However, several members of Islamic Jihad have rejected Ismail, claiming that he lacks experience, prefering instead Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, whose explusion from the Muslim Brotherhood was announced on Sunday.
Fotouh caused a stir within the Brotherhood by announcing that he would run for president, despite the Islamist group's stated intention of not offering a candidate in the presidential elections.
Jama'a al-Islamiya has yet to endorse a candidate.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
