Egyptian opposition forces and liberal figures met Monday evening at the Conservative Party headquarters in Cairo.
They agreed to announce the formation of the „Free Movement“ at a press conference next Saturday or Sunday at the latest.
Publisher and former president of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, Hisham Qassem, told Arabi 21 that the final version of the movement’s founding document will be decided on Tuesday evening after the founding members add comments or changes to the draft document he wrote.
The founding document of the „Free Movement“ will focus on introducing the new liberal coalition to the people and answering the questions, „Who are we? What are our causes? Who is our target audience? What are our goals?“ said Qassem. He explained, „The focus of the Free Movement’s target audience will be private sector workers. They have been exposed to harsh conditions in recent years, and make up 80% of the labor force in Egypt.“ Regarding the position on the Civil Movement, he added, „We did not even discuss this issue because we are following a parallel path that does not overlap the Civil Movement, which we respect and value.
And therefore, the Free Movement is not at odds with the movement or at odds with its goals. And there will be no poaching of Civil Movement members into this movement, as some have said.“
Asked if the issue of presidential elections was discussed at the meeting, Qassem replied, „We have not discussed this issue until now. It is more important that we start first and then determine our positions on national issues later, but in any case, we will not field a candidate in the elections if President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi runs, because in this case, the elections have no meaning.“ He added: „We want to take a real and serious political path. The status quo can no longer continue and we will work to have a different vision than the one presented in the past years so that we do not repeat the situation of improvisation and arbitrariness that occurred after the January 25, 2011 revolution.“
The Egyptian jurist pointed out that „(the Free Movement) will present a roadmap for the liberalization of the Egyptian economy, which presupposes political reforms that will be formulated as the first step in the movement’s work,“ stressing that „the free economy is the best way to end the current economic crisis.“
In previous remarks to „Arabi 21,“ Hisham Qassem had stated that liberal parties and figures will hold an important meeting at the headquarters of the Conservative Party on Monday to finalize the last details related to the founding of the „Free Movement,“ and that the official announcement of this movement is expected before Eid al-Adha. Qassem explained that „(the Free Movement) counts four parties among its members, namely: the Conservative, Reform and Development, the Constitution, Egypt of Freedom and a number of political symbols, public figures and businessmen, which are about 20 so far,“ adding that „we are not pressuring anyone to join the movement, but there are arrangements with other personalities and parties that may not be announced during the upcoming press conference.“
Translated and edited from arabi21.com
