Jama’a al-Islamiya announced Monday the withdrawal of its support for the formation of a new coalition government led by the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party.
The group said in a statement that there is no need to change the government during the interim period. Rather, if members of parliament are displeased with the current government, they should submit votes of no-confidence for ministers who do not fulfill their duties, Jama’a al-Islamiya said.
It said that not supporting a change of government is in keeping with its policy, which targets political, security and economic stability in the current period.
The group denied news reports that said it had been offered representation in the new government.
Mohamed Hassan Hammad, spokesperson of the group’s Shura Council, told Al-Masry Al-Youm Sunday that the group was considering nominations for the interior and education minister positions, which the group regarded as the two most important ministers in the proposed new government.
Jama’a al-Islamiya also supported an initiative by Salafi Sheikh Mohamed Hassan, who called for replacing US aid with aid donated by Egyptians.
Hassan on Saturday called on Egyptians inside and outside Egypt to donate to a fund that the country could use in place of the foreign aid, which many Egyptians believe comes with political conditions that influence national decision making.
Jama’a al-Islamiya also asked Egyptians to support the initiative and demanded that the People’s Assembly swiftly issue regulations for the fund, as well as methods of controlling it. It said it hoped the fund could pay for Egypt’s foreign debts.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
