Egypt's opposition moves toward forming single party

Votes since the overthrow of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak in February 2011 suggest Islamist support has slipped, but Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood is a potent political force with a grassroots network - built up over decades, even when it was repressed - that liberals cannot yet match.

The opposition says the constitution, passed after weeks of protests and violence, favours Islamists and ignores the rights of Christians, who make up about 10 percent of the population, and women. They say it will split the country and lead to more unrest.

"The majority is not big and the minority is not small," liberal politician Amr Hamzawy said, adding that the Frontwould use "all peaceful, democratic means" to challenge the constitution and make their voices heard.

George Ishak, another Front figure, said: "The revolution continues and we will resist with all peaceful means to bring down this unjust constitution."

Other members said discussions about fighting the parliamentary poll as a single unit were continuing and it was too early to talk of details such as how candidates would be fielded in different constituencies.

Front members include Nobel Peace Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei, who leads the Constitution Party, and leftist Hamdeen Sabahy, founder of the Popular Current movement.

Both groups have been prominent in demonstrations against Mursi's rule and his drive to fast-track the constitution through an Islamist-dominated drafting assembly, which opponents quit in protest.

Sabahy said the referendum showed "this constitution has no national consensus." Islamists dismissed such criticism, saying the result was a clear majority and the constitution was a fair and essential step to advance Egypt's democratic transition.

Previous

1 | 2