Egypt: Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is expected to run for President

Egypt's Field Marshall Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi
(Image: Ahram-Online)

Egypt’s Field Marshall, chief of the Armed Forces and Minister of Defense Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has stated that he will run for President during the upcoming presidential elections to be held in Egypt. El-Sisi has declared it during his official speech at the officers’ graduation ceremony in Cairo, stating: “I cannot turn my back if the majority wants me to run for President”.

“The formal procedures will be finalized within the coming days”, added Field Marshall and called people to stay united and to work together in order to build the new Egypt and develop the country.

Ukrainian opposition plans to form united pro-Ukrainian and pro-European team, as Vitaly Klichko calls for a single oppositional presidential candidate

Euromaidan: Ukrainian anti-government protests
(Image: Liga NET)

Ukrainian oppositional forces work currently on forming the team to fight for democratic changes in Ukraine and to participate in the upcoming 2015 presidential elections, according to the statement made on Tuesday, 7 January, by one of the oppositional leaders, Arseny Yatsenyuk, while he delivered his speech on Kyiv Euromaidan.

Some political experts criticized opposition for the pause it took and lack of strong decisions taken during the latest time, though some other specialists are sure this pause is important in order not to divide participants of Euromaidan, Ukrainian anti-governmental protests. Citizens of Ukraine and demonstrators have a chance now to form their proposals and ideas regarding the steps to change political situation in the country.

Egypt’s President’s and Cabinet’s spokesmen resigned, along with several ministers and members of Shura Council

Egyptians protesting against Mohamed Morsy in Tahrir

Amid the ongoing massive anti-Morsy demonstrations all over Egypt, the country’s government, Parliament and Presidency faced a wave of resignations.

Thus, on 2 July 2013, spokesperson of Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy, Ehab Fahmy, and also spokesperson of Hesham Qandeel’s Cabinet of Ministers, Alaa El-Hadid, submitted their resignations due to the deepening political crisis and President’s administration’s failure to respond to the massive protests in the country.

Egyptian oppositional youth refused to attend the Presidential Constitution meeting

Egyptian Constitution

The youth representatives of six Egyptian oppositional parties released a joint statement on Monday, 5 November 2012, where they apologized for their refusal to attend the meeting with the President and his advisory team regarding the drafting of the future Constitution.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsy initiated to hold the negotiations with his advisory team and diverse political parties and forces to discussed the draft of the future Egyptian Constitution proposed by the current Constituent Assembly. Fourteen different political forces have received the official invitations to participate in the talks scheduled in a few days and to also send their youth’s representatives. But six of them have refused to attend the meeting.

Among those parties refused to meet the presidential advisors are Constitution Party, Egyptian Current Party, Socialist Popular Alliance Party, Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Free Egypt Party and Free Egyptians Party. Their youth’s wings refused to participate in the planned meeting with the presidential advisory team as they refuse the current formation of the Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting the new Constitution.

Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy names his presidential team

Mohamed Morsy, Egypt's President

Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy appointed the members of his presidential team on Monday, 27 August. His official spokesperson Yasser Ali revealed the list of names of President’s assistants and advisors tasked with aiding and consulting Egypt’s first freely and democratically elected president.

According to Yasser Ali, the team will include six Muslim Brotherhood figures. There are two members of Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Bureau, which considers being the entity separate from Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing Freedom and Justice Party (FJP). Another two team’s members representing Islamists forces are from Salafist Al-Nour Party.

The Presidential team consists of four assistants and seventeen consultants.

Egypt's Presdient appoints El-Ganzoury as advisor

Kamal El-Ganzoury, former Egypt's Prime Minister and Mohamed Morsy's current advisor

According to Egyptian state TV, Egypt's President Mohamed Morsy has appointed the former Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzoury as his advisor. The names of the memebers of the presidential team have to be officially announced today, on Thursday, together with the announcement of the Egypt's new government.

Egypt’s government and presidential team to be announced on Thursday

Hisham Kandeel, Egypt's Prime Minister

This Thursday promises to be really very important day for Egypt as there will be two official announcements: of the presidential team and of the new Egypt’s cabinet.

The newly appointed Prime Minister Hisham Kandeel has already presented to Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsy the list of the members chosen for Egyptian government and claimed 70% of the Cabinet’s seats are chosen and agreed. There are still some ongoing consultations and negotiations over the post of deputy prime minister for the economic affairs.