Morsy is rumored to have offered Coptic vice presidency

[Winged Isis]

Morsy is rumored to have offered Coptic vice presidency

President Mohamed Morsy is rumored to have offered President Mohamed Morsy is rumored to have offered Coptic thinker Samir Morkous the vice presidency, sources close to the presidential office said on Thursday.

Salafi parties allegedly rejected the move and demanded that Morsy retract the offer.

If Morkous accepts the vice presidency, he will have one of the most important seats of power in the country, the sources added.

Morsy is said to have offered Mohamed al-Beltagy, a leader in the Freedom and Justice Party, and leftist activist Wael Khalil positions as political councilors, but neither has yet accepted the offer, according to sources.

The Freedom and Justice Party's Mohamed Saad Eliwa said the Muslim Brotherhood welcomes the choice of a Copt or a woman as the vice president.

The Brotherhood supports the notion of a civil state with Islamic points of reference, in which political positions are handed out based on experience and capability, not on religion, Eliwa continued.

Adel Afify, head of the Salafi Asala Party, said the nomination of a Copt to the vice presidency would cause sedition in the country because of its sectarian nature. He demanded the president rescind the offer.

“Muslims, who are the majority in the country, will not agree to the decision,” Afify added.

Nour Party spokesperson Yousry Hammad claimed that even if his powers were limited, choosing a Coptic vice president could open the door to nominating officials for sectarian purposes.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm, sources close to the presidential office said on Thursday.

Salafi parties allegedly rejected the move and demanded that Morsy retract the offer.

If Morkous accepts the vice presidency, he will have one of the most important seats of power in the country, the sources added.

Morsy is said to have offered Mohamed al-Beltagy, a leader in the Freedom and Justice Party, and leftist activist Wael Khalil positions as political councilors, but neither has yet accepted the offer, according to sources.

The Freedom and Justice Party's Mohamed Saad Eliwa said the Muslim Brotherhood welcomes the choice of a Copt or a woman as the vice president.

The Brotherhood supports the notion of a civil state with Islamic points of reference, in which political positions are handed out based on experience and capability, not on religion, Eliwa continued.

Adel Afify, head of the Salafi Asala Party, said the nomination of a Copt to the vice presidency would cause sedition in the country because of its sectarian nature. He demanded the president rescind the offer.

“Muslims, who are the majority in the country, will not agree to the decision,” Afify added.

Nour Party spokesperson Yousry Hammad claimed that even if his powers were limited, choosing a Coptic vice president could open the door to nominating officials for sectarian purposes.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/so ... tic-writer

[Horus]

What a pity that the religious aspect of this appointment has been brought to the fore by the Muslim voters and this really highlights the problem of non secular governments within Egypt. Had religion not played such a large part in the voting then this appointment would have had the effect of making other minorities such as the Copts feel like they were an inclusive part of this new government. As it is, it will just be seen by the more religious voters as an affront to their own beliefs by appointing someone from outside of their religious grouping.

“The Brotherhood supports the notion of a civil state with Islamic points of reference, in which political positions are handed out based on experience and capability, not on religion”

Those principles would be laudable if they were actually put into practice and would go along way to promoting unity, it may be the case that Morsi is attempting to do just that with this particular appointment, but if the appointment does not go ahead due to objections within the MB itself, then that will signal the rise to power of the more radical elements within the party flexing their muscles to get this changed and that could be the precursor to a more radical form of government eventually coming to power in Egypt.