Egypt’s Islamist al-Nour Party to help shape new constitution

Al-Nour is the second largest Islamist party in Egypt after the Muslim Brotherhood Cairo – Akram Ali Egypt’s al-Nour Party said on Monday it could join the assembly writing a new constitution, adding Islamist support to the army’s political transition plan following the ousting of former president Mohammed Morsi in July.
Al-Nour, the second largest Islamist party in Egypt after Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood, said it had reservations about the fact that the constitutional amendments would take place under an appointed interim president instead of an elected one.
In a press release, al-Nour said “the party does not mind participating in the committee that is charged with finalising the amended constitution, under the condition that Egypt’s Islamist identity is maintained in the constitution, mainly the first clauses as well as articles number 2, 8, 81, and 219.”
“The party objects to the principle of the constitutional amendments taking place under an appointed president and through a committee whose work is reigned over by individuals appointed by that same president,” the statement further said.
Al-Nour voiced other reservations including what it said was an under-representation of political parties in the 50-member committee that would be tasked with writing the document.
The party denounced that the interim president authorised the prime minister to set selective criteria for the 50-member committee, which al-Nour said led to the marginalisation of political parties, accusing the Egyptian ruler of following in the footsteps of deposed president Hosni Mubarak’s regime who used to weaken the role of political parties.
Al-Nour demanded the interim authority change the selective criteria of the 50 member committee to include more representatives from political parties, highlighting that this is the only way to reach political consensus that will lead to stability, economic growth and social justice.