More presidential hopefuls this week have rejected the idea of a consensus candidate for Egypt’s upcoming presidential race.
Islamist hopeful Hazem Salah Abu Ismail on Monday said he rejected the idea because most of those who would seek to become a consensus candidate are already in power, “which is not a political consensus but a conspiracy.”
Egypt’s newspapers have recently reported and discussed the idea of a consensus candidate for president, referring to Arab League Secretary General Nabil al-Araby as a potential presidential hopeful.
News about Araby’s potential nomination circulated in dailies such as Al-Shorouk, Al-Tahrir and Al-Masry Al-Youm. Reports said Araby might be chosen as the consensus candidate for the Muslim Brotherhood and the ruling military council.
In a phone call from Paris on Sunday, presidential hopeful Mohamed Selim al-Awa told a talk show on the privately owned channel CBC that only Egyptians can decide and choose a president.
“The idea of a consensus president is one of the world’s nine wonders,” he said. “It’s impossible for all people to agree on one person. Consensus can be accepted if it is among two forces or more.”
Awa said the lack of a clear timeline for presidential elections adds mystery to the situation.
In an interview on the privately owned channel ONTV, presidential hopeful Amr Moussa also attacked the idea of a consensus candidate.
Moussa said political forces’ attempts to agree on a candidate might influence voters who want to vote for someone else.
“We shouldn’t deprive people from selection. Attempts to impose a specific candidate are unacceptable,” he added.
