Report: Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood willing to work with ElBaradei

Apr 6, 2010, 9:57 GMT

Cairo - A senior leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said the group was ready to join former UN nuclear agency chief Mohammed ElBaradei's campaign for political reform, in remarks published Tuesday.

The Brotherhood, which, though banned, is Egypt's largest opposition group, had previously held ElBaradei at arm's length, though individual members had expressed support for his campaign to change Egypt's constitution and electoral system.

But in remarks published in the independent Cairo daily al-Shorouq Tuesday, Mahmoud Hussein, secretary general of the Brotherhood, said his group would be willing to join ElBaradei's National Coalition for Change if the coalition would accept the group's participation.

The Brotherhood's entrance to the coalition would make them by far the largest component in what ElBaradei has cast as a 'big tent' movement, saying the 'door is open to all Egyptians.'

Hussein told the daily that the Brotherhood would join the coalition as an organization, rather than through the membership of individuals.

Brotherhood-affiliated member of parliament Saad al-Katatni, who won his seat in 2005 running as an independent, had already expressed his support for ElBaradei's campaign after meeting him last month.

ElBaradei has breathed new life into Egypt's opposition since he responded to calls to run for president in the 2011 elections by saying he would consider a bid only if the government took steps to amend Egypt's constitution and electoral system.

According to constitutional amendments passed in 2007, ElBaradei would need to have been a senior member of a licensed party for a year before the elections or to have won the support of 250 elected national and local officials.

Since the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) has an unassailable majority in all of Egypt's elected bodies, it is unlikely he could find that support without the NDP's blessing.

ElBaradei has called for loosening restrictions on independents' participation in elections, a two-term limit on the presidency, and strengthening judicial oversight of the polls.