Potential presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi said, “If civilian president was elected, failed and people revolted against him, military will take the people’s side. However, if military president came to office, the military will be in embarrassing situation.”
In a TV interview aired on the privately-owned Dream 2 TV channel, Sabbahi said, “I understand views on those who want a president from military due to fears of terrorism, but I would tell them that confronting terrorism requires a political and social not only security policies. Oppressive ideas are not not face with gun, but with enlightened ideas.”
“[Deposed President] Mohamed Morsy’s experience offended the idea of having a civilian president and made people doubt it, but Morsy failed because he served his group at the expense of his people,” he added.
Sabbahi also said that if president, he would be honored if “Field Marshal Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the defense minister, accepted to support me at the position where he can serve the country.” He described him as ‘national capital’ that could not be sacrificed.
Regarding motivations of Sisi’s nomination to run for president, Sabbahi described them as ‘national motivations’ saying, “I appreciate security and political considerations that surround him.”
In case Sabbahi does not win, he said he will not accept any governmental post or get engaged within the presidential team. “Hamdeen Sabbahi will not be named in a post with a decision to be signed by someone. I will not accept any position within executive presidential team. I have two choices “either to assist the coming president if he adopted the revolution, or oppose him in a respectful national was.”
Commenting on talks that the Muslim Brotherhood supports him secretly, Sabbahi said that it does not deserve to be commented on, adding that opposition of the Brotherhood and officials affiliated to the Mubarak era for him makes him more confident that he is on the right way.
He also added that he was never convinced with shouting against the military, saying that he posts messages to his campaign members warning against offense to Sisi, military or other candidates
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
