ElBaradei's party denies its support for Al-Sisi's presidential bid

Al-Dostour (the Constitution) Party, led by former Egyptian Vice-President Mohamed ElBaradei, has denied the recent claims made by media outlets regarding the party’s alleged support for nominating General Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi to run in the upcoming presidential elections, describing the debate on this issue as “premature”.

The party’s official spokesperson, Khaled Daud, dismissed a television report that suggested the party had already decided to support First General and Defence Minister Al-Sisi if he runs for the presidency. Daud added that the issue “was never raised for discussion in the first place, neither within the party nor its central bodies, in the recent period”.

Daud added that the presidential nominations have not even started officially yet. Moreover, Al-Sisi has not announced his candidacy; therefore, the debate on this issue “seems premature at the present stage”.

Last Sunday Egypt’s interim president hinted that a presidential election could be held before the parliamentary vote, deviating from the transitional plan announced after the 3rd July 2013 coup that ousted Egypt’s first democratically elected government, and raising fears that the military regime seeks to control the outcome of parliamentary elections.

ElBaradei resigned from his post in August of last year, following the violent dispersal of the sit-ins at Rabaa Al-Adawiya Square that resulted in the injury or death of thousands of Egyptians who had been peacefully protesting the military coup. A few days later ElBaradei went to Austria, which provoked a number of political forces and figures to prosecute him on charges including dishonesty, in addition to demanding the withdrawal of his nationality.

ElBaradei has accused what he described as “ex-military officers and biased media professionals” of being behind the lawsuits filed against him, calling them “malicious cases”.

Source: Raialyoum