By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    World-leading UK hospital signs partnership with specialist healthcare investment firm, Elevate
    World-leading UK hospital signs partnership with specialist healthcare investment firm, Elevate
    March 28, 2023
    EFG Hermes closes EGP 193.65m securitized bond issuance for Premium International
    March 28, 2023
    Australian government strikes deal on climate policy
    Australian government strikes deal on climate policy
    March 28, 2023
    EGX signs MoU to expand scope of regional climate action
    EGX signs MoU to expand scope of regional climate action
    March 28, 2023
    Gold prices drop 1% globally due to measure to contain SVB crisis: Gold Bullion
    Gold prices drop 1% globally due to measure to contain SVB crisis: Gold Bullion
    March 28, 2023
  • Politics
    PoliticsShow More
    Al-Sisi follows up on development of sea, dry, and land ports
    Al-Sisi follows up on development of sea, dry, and land ports
    March 29, 2023
    Iranian, Saudi FMs discuss imminent bilateral meeting in phone call
    Iranian, Saudi FMs discuss imminent bilateral meeting in phone call
    March 28, 2023
    Kenyan police clash with anti-government protesters
    Kenyan police clash with anti-government protesters
    March 28, 2023
    Russia to stay in World Trade Organization: Russian diplomat
    Russia to stay in World Trade Organization: Russian diplomat
    March 28, 2023
    Israeli PM calls for calm amid turmoil over government's judicial overhaul
    Israeli PM calls for calm amid turmoil over government’s judicial overhaul
    March 28, 2023
  • Interviews
    InterviewsShow More
    Developers have to offer innovative products, state should provide more facilities to stimulate industry: Kareem Mamoun
    Developers have to offer innovative products, state should provide more facilities to stimulate industry: Kareem Mamoun
    March 27, 2023
    Government should help Egyptian arts revive its pioneering role: Omar Abdel Aziz
    Government should help Egyptian arts revive its pioneering role: Omar Abdel Aziz
    March 15, 2023
    Interconnected healthcare systems in Africa require political will from North African leaders: Amref official
    Interconnected healthcare systems in Africa require political will from North African leaders: Amref official
    March 12, 2023
    EGX ready for government’s IPOs programme: Chairperson
    EGX ready for government’s IPOs programme: Chairperson
    February 15, 2023
    British International Investment invests $4.5bn in 700 businesses across Africa: Sherine Shohdy
    February 15, 2023
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Reading: The Future of Al-Wasat Party
Share
Notification
Latest News
Al-Sisi follows up on development of sea, dry, and land ports
Al-Sisi follows up on development of sea, dry, and land ports
Politics Egypt
World-leading UK hospital signs partnership with specialist healthcare investment firm, Elevate
World-leading UK hospital signs partnership with specialist healthcare investment firm, Elevate
Business
EFG Hermes closes EGP 193.65m securitized bond issuance for Premium International
Business
Australian government strikes deal on climate policy
Australian government strikes deal on climate policy
Business
Iranian, Saudi FMs discuss imminent bilateral meeting in phone call
Iranian, Saudi FMs discuss imminent bilateral meeting in phone call
World Politics
Aa
Aa
DailynewsegyptDailynewsegypt
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.
Dailynewsegypt > Blog > Opinion > The Future of Al-Wasat Party
Opinion

The Future of Al-Wasat Party

Daily News Egypt
Last updated: 2013/01/16 at 9:00 PM
By Daily News Egypt 6 Min Read
Share
SHARE

Nicholas GjorvadBy Nicholas Gjorvad

After its split from the Muslim Brotherhood in 1996, Al-Wasat Party quickly became the darling of many western academics due to its progressive stance on several democratic issues while maintaining an Islamist identity.  Its stated goal was to unite Egyptian society by forming a political party that separated the Islamic da’wa (calling) from the ambitions of a political party.

Through this separation, it hoped to represent a majority of the Egyptian electorate, which it sees as reflecting Egypt’s predominately Islamic character, with a modern political party focusing on the governing aspects needed for the state to function.  To this day, members voice their hope of uniting Egyptians through this party whose members believe sits in the middle of the political spectrum in Egypt.

However, the party’s recent support for the Brotherhood-led constitution has placed significant doubt as to whether Al-Wasat Party is concerned with uniting Egyptians at all.  Several in the opposition have claimed that in exchange for Al-Wasat support for the constitution the party was rewarded with nine presidential appointees to the Shura Council, a significant total for a party which has had virtually no political success to date.

These actions have upset many in the revolutionary camp and have, in light of Al-Wasat’s designation as an Islamist party, further enforced the prevailing narrative of a societal war between Islamists and non-Islamists jousting for political power.

Al-Wasat Party appears to have taken a political gamble which endangers the party’s viability in the future.  In supporting a constitution which was passed exclusively by Islamists, as well as being viewed as favouring the Brotherhood, Al-Wasat has lost support from those in the revolutionary camp.  The party’s leadership may have concluded that, in light of its poor electoral performance, this type of political deal was the only means currently available to obtain important legislative positions for its party members.

When I spoke to Amr Farouk, the spokesman for the party, he stated that the appointments of Al-Wasat members to the Shura Council were in no way the result of a political backroom deal with the Brotherhood.  Additionally, Farouk added that the party still strives to unite Egyptian society and it continues to act independently and in the best interests of Egyptians.  He points to the party’s recent criticism of Prime Minister Hesham Qandil and his Cabinet as evidence that they are not merely pawns of the powerful Muslim Brotherhood political machine.

The strategy of Al-Wasat Party appears to hinge on the idea that by supporting the constitution it has obtained political representation and then can make a quick return to the middle of the Egyptian political spectrum without significant political cost.  This strategy, while earning Al-Wasat members positions in the Shura Council, seems shortsighted in light of the current political environment in Egypt.

Moderate political parties associated with defectors from the Muslim Brotherhood, such as the Egyptian Current Party and Strong Egypt Party, did not support the Brotherhood in its constitution-writing process and therefore, continue to be attractive alternatives for those Islamists opposed to the increasingly authoritative nature of the Brotherhood, as well as other moderates.

Despite opposing the constitution, neither party has joined the National Salvation Front (NSF) since they believe the Brotherhood/Salafi alliance along with the anti-Islamist NSF are dividing society along purely Islamist/non-Islamist lines to the detriment of the Egyptian people.

In this sense, they are occupying a political space that bridges the gap between the present Islamist/non-Islamist chasm, a political space which Al-Wasat members wish to occupy.  Conversely, in siding with the Brotherhood, Al-Wasat Party has not accomplished one of its main tasks of differentiating itself to the Egyptian electorate from other Islamist parties on the ideological right.

For these reasons, Al-Wasat Party currently has very little electoral room in which to operate after making this political gamble. Clearly, the party has made some significant political gains in the Shura Council, but it has placed doubt on its ultimate political goal of uniting the Egyptian people around a political party which representative of society.

While I do not question Al-Wasat members’ sincerity in attempting to bring Egyptian society together, it is difficult to see how its recent actions help to accomplish this goal.  What further complicates matters is the persistence of the Islamist and non-Islamist divide in Egypt; a divide in which Al-Wasat has apparently chosen a side.  Far from uniting Egyptians, Al-Wasat Party’s support of the constitution has placed the future viability, along with the goals, of its party in doubt due to the division which the constitution has perpetuated.

Nicholas Gjorvad is a political researcher. He holds Masters degrees in both Philosophy and Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Edinburgh.

You Might Also Like

China’s latest diplomatic move will extend its trade, energy, financial and maritime power

As longterm partnership with US fades, Saudi Arabia seeks to diversify its diplomacy – and recent deals with China, Iran and Russia fit this strategy

When banks go bust: the four factors at play – trust, confidence, contagion and systemic risk

Opinion| Türkiye and Egypt: For better times with many opportunities

Opinion| The Chinese dragon occupies America’s place in the Middle East

TAGGED: Al-Wasat party, DNE, elections, Nicholas Gjorvad, opinion, political party
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print
Previous Article The vigil was called for by the MYU because of the string of attacks on Copts and their places of worship over the past two years. (AFP PHOTO) Mob tears down Christian social centre in Fayoum
Next Article Petroleum giants level criticism at current contractual agreements model
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Ad image

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Instagram Follow
Youtube Subscribe

Latest News

Al-Sisi follows up on development of sea, dry, and land ports
Al-Sisi follows up on development of sea, dry, and land ports
Politics Egypt
World-leading UK hospital signs partnership with specialist healthcare investment firm, Elevate
World-leading UK hospital signs partnership with specialist healthcare investment firm, Elevate
Business
EFG Hermes closes EGP 193.65m securitized bond issuance for Premium International
Business
Australian government strikes deal on climate policy
Australian government strikes deal on climate policy
Business
//
Egypt’s only independent daily newspaper in English. Discuss the country’s latest with the paper’s reporters, editors, and other readers.

Quick Link

  • Home
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Interviews
  • Culture
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Lifestyle

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

© 2023 DNE News. All Rights Reserved.

Join Us!

Subscribe to our newsletter and never miss our latest news, podcasts etc..

Zero spam, Unsubscribe at any time.

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?