Benkirane: National reconciliation is Egypt’s only solution to regain its normal status

Former prime minister of Morocco, Abdelilah Benkirane, stressed that “genuine national reconciliation is Egypt’s shortest way to regain its stability and its Arab, Islamic and international status.”

In an exclusive interview with Quds Press, Benkirane called on “political leaders and actors in Egypt to reconsider what has happened over the past years and how each side has behaved.”

He said: “Reconciliation is the only solution to the crises of the Middle East … genuine reconciliation is required, this is the right and only way for the Arab and Muslim people.”

Benkirane pointed out that “Everyone used to look to Egypt as the leading Arab state and the leader of the Islamic Umma. However, its current situation does not please anyone, and we want it to regain its leadership and status,” as he put it.

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Benkirane’s remarks were delivered as part of his comment on the presidential elections that have started in Egypt on Monday, in which two candidates, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the leader of El-Ghad Party, Moussa Mostafa Moussa, are competing.

The Egyptian army has earlier announced it has taken all the measures and procedures to secure the voting process, whose results observers say are already settled in favour of the current President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

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The term of the new Egyptian President will last for four years (until 2022).

The elections are being held under the auspices of nine Arab and international organisations and about 50 local NGOs, as well as the Arab League and the African Union, which last week confirmed that it would send 40 observers to follow up the voting process.