By Dylan Takores
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – The National Salvation Front (NSF) stated today, February 26, that it will boycott the upcoming Parliamentary elections.  The NSF contends that the elections will unfairly favor the current Islamist majority party.

 

Egyptian protestors near Tahrir Square, Cairo. (Photo Courtesy of AP)

 

In January 2012, Mohammed Morsi of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) narrowly won Egypt’s first free presidential election.  The FJP is the political branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, a prominent Islamist group.  Islamist parties also won most of the Parliamentary positions in addition to the presidency.

Led by Mohamed ElBaradei, the NSF is an umbrella group encompassing many liberal and leftist parties that oppose the Muslim Brotherhood.  The NSF successfully brought together a wide range of opposition parties including the Egyptian Popular Current, al-Dustour, al-Tajammu, Free Egyptians, and New Wafd among others.

President Morsi announced on February 22 that a new round of elections will be held in four stages between April 27 and late June of this year.  ElBaradei immediately called for a boycott, and today, members of the NSF unanimously affirmed the decision to boycott the elections.

The purpose of the boycott is to undermine the legitimacy of the elections.  Sameh Ashour, a spokesman for the NSF, stated in a press conference, “there can be no elections without a law that guarantees the fairness of the election process.”  Ashour added, “real independence of the judiciary” is required to ensure fairness.

In recent months, the NSF insisted on several preconditions to ensure fairness and freedom in future elections.  The group believes that elections under the current system skew favor to Islamist parties. However, due to its overwhelming majority, the FJP disregarded the NSF objections and the Parliament voted to hold new elections with near unanimity.

Heba Yassin of the Egyptian Popular Current explained that the purpose of the boycott is “to protest against the election that we did not participate in drafting, and about which our opinion was not taken.”

January 25 marked the second anniversary of the Egyptian independence movement that successfully ousted former Prime Minister Hosni Mubarak.  In the wake of the anniversary, tensions resurfaced and clashes broke out.  An estimated seventy people have died and hundreds more wounded in the past month as a result of the clashes.

The NSF also announced its intention to boycott a dialogue set to take place between President Morsi and leaders of opposition parties.  Ashour asserted, “no dialogue should be held over the dead bodies of our martyrs.”  He continued that until President Morsi adequately addresses the present crisis, the NSF will not participate in any open dialogue.

Following the NSF’s announcement, State Department Spokesman Edgar Vasquez made a statement on behalf of the United States.  He referred to the current political situation as a “critical” moment for Egypt.  He encouraged the NSF to reconsider its decision and emphasized that it is important for all Egyptian parties to participate in the elections.

 

For further information, please see:

ABC News – Egypt’s Main Opposition Coalition to Boycott Vote – 26 February 2013

Ahram – Egypt’s NSF to Boycott Elections, Dialogue – 26 February 2013

BBC News – Egypt Opposition to Boycott Polls – 26 February 2013

Egypt Independent – NSF to Boycott Parliamentary Elections – 26 February 2013

Haaretz – Egyptian Opposition Alliance to Boycott Parliamentary Election – 26 February 2013

Author: Impunity Watch Archive