This resource was published on 09/21/2011 and is not updated to reflect changing circumstances.
The Free Egyptians Party is fast emerging as a major player. With 100,000 registered members, it is probably second only to the Freedom and Justice Party in terms of its organization and potential. The Free Egyptians Party is the linchpin of the Egypt Bloc.
Major Party Figures
Naguib Sawiris: Founder
Ahmed Said: Member of party’s executive committee
Hani Sary al-Din: Member of party’s executive committee
Basel Adel: Member of party’s executive committee
Background
Launched in April 2011 by Egyptian telecommunications mogul Naguib Sawiris, former chairman of Orascom Telecom Holding, the party can draw on large financial resources and management expertise. Sawiris, a Copt, has made it clear that the party is for all Egyptians, not just Copts, and the response suggests people believe him. The party is firmly pro-business and pro-trade, and focuses on economic development based upon a free economy, strong state institutions, and the rule of law. It accepts Islam as the state religion but advocates religious freedom in a civil state and stresses equality of all citizens regardless of creed. In terms of its platform, it is the most liberal of the Egypt Bloc members.
Platform
Political Issues
- Supporting separation of religious and state affairs in a civil, non-religious state
- Affirming full equality of all citizens regardless of differences in religion, sex, wealth, race, region, color, and culture
- Supporting democracy, freedom of speech, expression, thought and conscience, and the right of citizens to organize freely and to express their opinions peacefully
- Believing in the role of women in society and the need to enable them to participate in all areas and public offices
- Providing the rule of law and judicial independence
Socioeconomic Issues
- Supporting a market economy to achieve prosperity.
- Restructuring the tax system to favor economic development
- Supporting responsible levels of government spending
- Supporting competitive bidding for government contracts
- Providing a minimum wage and the expansion of micro-credit programs
- Implementing tax credits for Zakat and tithe to reward social cooperation
- Eradicating poverty to improve the standard of living of 70 percent of Egyptians
Foreign Policy Issues
- Defending the national interests of Egypt at all times
- Supporting a fair and just resolution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict which involves a two-state solution with a Palestinian state on 1967 borders and Jerusalem as its capital and an Israeli withdrawal from Arab territories in Syria and south Lebanon
- Respecting the Camp David Accords international agreement between Egypt and Israel
- Reforming the system of the Arab League, in order for it to become a true reflection of the hopes and aspirations of Arab peoples and a mechanism to ensure peace, security and stability in the region
- Working to free the Middle East from all Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Developing stronger ties with both Turkey and Iran
- Increasing cooperation with both Sudan and South Sudan and the rest of the Nile Basin countries for mutual security and development
- Rebalancing Egyptian-American based upon mutual respect, balance and parity
- Strengthening trade ties with the United States
- Strengthening economic relations and trade with Russia and China
