Cairo: Egypt after June 30 will never be the same, according to Hazem Al Beblawi, former finance minister and deputy PM in Essam Sharaf’s Cabinet after the January Revolution 2011.
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News Al Beblawi said the military would be the only possible alternative to replace President Mohammad Mursi if the state collapses.
Al Beblawi, who resigned from office after nearly four months, when Coptic Christians were killed by security forces in October 2011, pointed out that a part of Egypt’s crisis now is that the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise to power was based upon slogans such as “Islam is the Solution” which tapped the religious public motives. However, they are unable to convert their general ideas into specific political and economic programmes.
On the performance of President Mursi, Al Beblawi said he was shocked by a wide gap between promises and actions. Mursi proved that his loyalty to the Muslim Brotherhood was stronger than his loyalty to the country.
Al Beblawi has signed a Tamarod campaign petition which has gathered more than 15 million petition signatures demanding Mursi’s resignation and calling for early presidential elections. He stressed that any sane politician would not underestimate the anger of Egyptians. The people who toppled Mubarak could topple the Brotherhood’s Mursi.
How do you see Egypt’s political future after June 30?
Anything is possible, but I’m sure that Egypt after June 30 will never be as it was before. The extent of the change depends on the scenarios of the events themselves. If they resulted in a sort of state collapse, the military will be the only possible alternative to replace Mursi.
At the end of the first year of Mursi’s rule, is the situation worse than the transitional phase under the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf)?
Yes, worse, as the differences between the opposition parties and the Islamist regime became too wide. Lack of trust is overwhelming. The Muslim Brotherhood believes that their opponents are conspiring [against] them. The opposition doesn’t trust in the Muslim Brotherhood’s intentions and their abilities, especially after the constitutional announcement, along with the failure to maintain security, lack of accountability, energy shortages and high prices of foods.
Has the Muslim Brotherhood a specific economic vision? Do you agree with it?
They have no specific economic vision. Their performance proved that they are beginners in steering a big and complicated country. A part of Egypt’s crisis now is that the Muslim Brotherhood’s rise to power was based upon slogans such as “Islam is the Solution” which tapped the religious public motives. However, they are unable to convert their general ideas into specific political and economic programmes.
They want to boost tourism but without wines and bikinis, but — again — they don’t know how to achieve that. And so on. When you are in power and do not have a vision or ideas you’ll surely face troubles. What makes the situation more difficult is the lack of political consensus between the Brotherhood and the rest of the political forces.
Were you optimistic about the President’s ability and his group to face Egypt’s economic problems?
No, I wasn’t optimistic at all, but their failure has exceeded all my pessimistic expectations. The Muslim Brotherhood doesn’t understand the reality as it is. I doubt that they have the intention to see the painful reality. They haven’t got qualified cadres able to think properly. More dangerous is that they refuse to speak honestly to the people and reveal the facts. Therefore, all they do is waste time.
The Muslim Brotherhood accuses its opponents of ignoring Mursi’s achievements. Is this right?
I do not see any specific achievement made by the Brotherhood. But on the whole, with such humble performance the group does not need enemies. The Muslim Brothers themselves are the group’s enemies. Monitoring Mursi’s performance over the past months proves that he and his group were making mistake after mistake and fit error with another error. For example, the president has retracted most of his decisions. That’s enough to lose credibility. Also surprising is their lack of transparency in many things. Egypt has witnessed many mysterious events. The most recent example is the abduction of seven soldiers last May. Until now, we don’t know who were the kidnappers, how the abducted were freed and in return for what?
On the first anniversary of Mursi’s tenure in office, how do you see his performance?
I’m shocked by a wide gap between his promises and actions. President Mursi proved that his loyalty to the Muslim Brotherhood is stronger than his loyalty to the country. Second, his performance was lacklustre in many decisions. For instance choosing of his aides, from the first beginning he didn’t select the best talent in the country and then he failed to keep them. They resigned one after another. This means that he didn’t select his aides properly, on the basis of merit, or even on the basis of loyalty.
Could the National Salvation Front be a possible alternative if the Brotherhood falls?
The NSF is a heterogeneous front. At present, its opposing stance toward the Muslim Brotherhood is unifying it. The public opinion in the streets always precedes a step forward. However, leadership does not arise between day and night. It must have time and experience to grow up. If the situation after June 30 exploded — a possibility I don’t rule out — the army will be the only qualified alternative to lead the country in a transitional moment. But it will not stay long because it doesn’t want to rule. The army has other duties and faces many challenges and its leadership is aware of them.
What do you expect regarding to the International Monetary Fund loan?
The IMF seemingly intends to approve the loan. But it has limits that it can’t go beyond. Unfortunately, the chances to obtain the loan are becoming more difficult on time. The government wants the final approval of the IMF loan as a certificate of trust that could help it to get loans from other international institutions and donors. The Brotherhood’s regime has no alternatives, especially under the ongoing confused political situation and the erosion of its international support.
— Ayman Sharaf is a journalist based in Cairo
