• September 28, 2006
  • 3 minutes read

Habib: Inheritance of Power Deepens Rifts In Society

Habib: Inheritance of Power Deepens Rifts In Society

In a phone-in program aired by al Jazeera Satellite Television on September 27, 2006, MB First Deputy Chairman Dr.Mohamed Habib said that the Muslim Brotherhood opposes inheritance of power in Egypt, adding that this could lead to deepening of social cracks. Habib warned of the dominance of the businessmen over decision making policies in case Gamal Mubarak succeeds his father in power.

 “It will eventually lead to erosion of the middle class in society”, he said, explaining that this imbalance could lead to untold consequences.”

Inheritance of power is not rejected by the Muslim Brotherhood only but the other political forces share the group this view”, he said, pointing out that article 76 of the constitution on presidential election makes the National Party candidate the only player in the presidential election, thus winning the presidency election unopposed.

On whether the group will coordinate with other political forces, Dr. Habib didn’t rule out that, especially that “ political reform only bears fruit if all political forces get together and coordinate their positions and attitudes”, he said, citing the recent parliamentary election when the group fielded only 161 candidates to make room for the other political forces to participate.

Commenting on the performance of the MB Parliamentary Bloc in this very term of session, Dr. Habib hailed influence of MB deputies in the decisions and orientations of the Parliament, citing the interpellations, requests for information and other parliamentary mechanisms used in this very term of session which accounted for about 50% of the total motions tabled to the Parliament.

 “The strategy of the MB Bloc within the Parliament goes on three axes: political reform, scientific research and sustainable development”, he said, asserting that the MB deputies have represented the majority in some terms of session.

The MB deputy chairman also said that the Muslim Brotherhood is keen to raise issues of national interest, including the bird flu and the disaster of Ferry Al Salaam 98, besides issues related to the situation on the Palestinian arena. On rumors of a deal between the Ikhwan and government, Habib denied such a deal, accusing the government of selling for this rumor to alienate the other parties and political forces from forging national reconciliation with the group.

 He wondered how the group has a deal with the government while the latter has detained 20000 of its members in the past ten years.

 Asked about claims of connection with the Americans, Habib vehemently denied such claims, saying that the group looks to the US administration with distrust, recalling the American backing of the suppressive regimes in the region and the absence of issues of common interest between the US and the group.

On whether the group probes founding a political party , Habib said that the Muslim Brotherhood will form a political party only after the abolishing of the state- owned Committee on Parties, which accepts and rejects parties on security rather than legal grounds.