Wafd Party supports call to unify Egypt’s political powers

CAIRO – 19 May 2018: The Wafd Party, headed by Bahaa el-Din Abu Shoka, expressed its support for President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi’s call to unify Egypt’s various political parties in two or three strong parties, stressing that this idea has become inevitable to promote Egypt’s political life.

Yasser al-Hudaibi, spokesperson for the Wafd Party, said in a statement that they will immediately begin addressing all the political parties to hold a meeting within a few days at the Wafd Party’s headquarters to discuss the president’s suggestion, which comes in line with Article 5 of the Constitution.

Article 5 stipulates that the Egyptian political system is based on political and partisan multiplicity, the peaceful transfer of power, the separation and balance of powers, authority going with responsibility, and respect for human rights and freedoms, as set out in the Constitution.

The Egypt’s Support parliamentary coalition, which holds around 400 of 597 seats in Parliament, announced in April its ambition to merge all the parties comprising the coalition into one unified party in order to “politically support the state.” This statement was met with a similar call by the Wafd Party, which revealed its intention to form an opposition coalition within the Parliament.

Sources revealed that Abu Shoka has discussed the opposition coalition idea with a number of parliament members, adding that this coalition could be the sole rival to the pro-government Egypt’s Support coalition.

The Egypt’s Support coalition includes the Free Egyptians, Mostakbal Watan, Homeland Defenders, Republican Peoples and Conference parties, in addition to many independent members.