Opposition campaigners reject call for dialogue: 'No alternative but overthrowing Morsi'

A senior member of the Egyptian opposition campaign group behind the planned June 30 Demonstrations has rejected a call for dialogue. Mohamed Abdel Nasser of the campaign’s central committee rejected Minister of Defence Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s call for the opposition to reach out to the presidency through dialogue.

According to Abdel Nasser, the campaign has passed the negotiation phase. “There is no alternative but to overthrow President Mohammed Morsi and conduct early presidential elections,” he insisted.

Speaking to Rasd news Agency, the opposition campaigner said that even concessions from the president, such as a cabinet reshuffle or forming a new government, “are unacceptable”. One London-based commentator wonders what the opposition will do if the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate wins the next presidential election whenever it takes place. “It looks as if the opposition’s idea of democracy is based on ‘our guy must win or it is unacceptable’,” said MEMO’s Senior Editor, Ibrahim Hewitt. “Someone should point out to them that a strong opposition is essential for a strong democracy and you can’t get your preferred candidate into office every time; it doesn’t work like that.”