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National Salvation Front shrinks and disintegrates

January 28, 2014 at 1:22 am

The failure of the National Salvation Front was apparent since its inception. Its leaders’ famous first press conference was delayed for several hours, and when they finally showed up, they were fighting over the microphone. No one will ever forget when Dr. El-Baradei tried to snatch the microphone away from Amr Moussa, saying “Come on Amr, give me the microphone.” Despite their eagerness, they were unable to succeed in anything, as they were contentious partners who have never achieved notable political or professional success.


Moreover, despite our people’s forgetfulness, no one will ever forget what El-Baradei did to Iraq. Soon, their meetings and conferences consisted of faded people. Even Ahmed Shafik, former presidential candidate and last prime minister of the ousted Mubarak regime, said during his last interview with London’s Al-Hayat newspaper that “strange actions” are being taken by leaders of the National Salvation Front. Shafik also said that, “As I said earlier, as long as our goal is one but our means of reaching the goal are conflicting, I would be wrong to reject an alliance with them. However, I was surprised by the fact that they were “playing the fool” and by the attacks they made after I made this statement.” Shafik continued his rant against the Salvation Front and its leaders by saying, “They said I was a remnant of the previous regime… I ask, where were you when I was a remnant? It would have been better for you to be a remnant than being behind bars, or being involved in illegal businesses or currency trading; there is nothing honourable about your pasts.”

Shafik stopped his rants against the Front and its leaders, who were quieted when El-Baradie resumed his trips to Europe. Meanwhile, when the ministerial reshuffle was announced, Amr Moussa went down every road and through every mediator that would lead him to President Morsi or any other decision-maker. All he wanted was to be near the leadership. During a television appearance last Wednesday, May 15th, he admitted that “the Salvation Front is suffering from internal disputes over how to manage matters, as well as the defamation campaigns directed at the Front.” In regards to the published report indicating that two-thirds of Egyptians know nothing about the Salvation Front, Amr said “This data means that the citizens require a greater effort on our part.”

As for the leader of the Wafd Party, El-Sayyid El-Badawi, who is considered one of the main funders of the Salvation Front, he called for an immediate meeting of the Front’s leaders to save what can be saved. However, the youth that rallied around these leaders, thinking they could form a vision to salvage the country, were frustrated since the Salvation Front still has not formed a unified political vision, and people no longer care about any decisions or opinions formed by the Front. Especially in light of the fact that two-thirds of the Egyptian people know nothing about the front, nor do they care about it or any of its positions and opinions. This means that there is no opposition, or even a partial opposition in Egypt. They are merely a combination of beneficiaries, only united by their love of microphones, cameras, and personal interests. However, Egypt is as in need of men in the opposition, as it is in need of men in power.

The author is an Egyptian writer. This article is a translation form the Arabic which appeared in Shorouk Newspaper, 20 May, 2013

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor.