Aboul Fotouh regretful over "military coup"

Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, founder of the Strong Egypt Party, has expressed remorse during his party's general conference on 13 February 2015 over his participation in Egypt's 30 June 2013 demonstrations.

The former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood admitted he had misjudged the situation, and described the events as a military coup against democracy.

The protests led to the military coup that ousted President Mohammed Morsi, a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood, three days later on 3 July.

The enemies of the revolution will depart, and this country and its people ... will be victorious. - Aboul Fatouh

"The Strong Egypt Party tried to convinced Morsi to hold early presidential elections to avoid a coup against democracy," Aboul Fatouh explained.

The 2011-2012 presidential candidate said he asked Morsi's advisers to meet with his own a few days before the overthrow but they refused.

According to Aboul Fatouh his party took part in the protests to demand early presidential elections or a referendum on whether or not Morsi should stay in power.

The party opposed the army's involvement in the coup and wanted the elections or a referendum to take place using constitutional means. The hope was that the head of the constitutional court would rule the country after suspending the constitution.

After the killings and unrest in the country that followed the outbreak of demonstrations, Fattouh said he called for a referendum on the 3 July 2013 road map to peace. He also boycotted all dialogue meetings called for by the presidency after the coup.

The Strong Egypt Party leader also blamed the ministry of interior for the incident at the Air Defence Stadium on 8 February, which caused the death of 19 Zamalek Football Club supporters. He argued that after 3 July 2013 it became normal to hear about Egyptian youths dying on a daily basis.

Calling on the revolutionary youth not to lose hope Aboul Fatouh said: "The enemies of the revolution will depart, and this country and its people who work silently away from the limelight will be victorious."

He also expressed satisfaction that there was a segment of society - as repreesnted by the conference - that refused to be ruled by any form of military or religious absolutism.

This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.