The Brotherhood and Salafis ejected from Tahrir Square

Most of the traditional Egyptian political forces lost out in the bloody battle to recover Tahrir Square, which has become the source of legitimacy in Egypt ever since the 25th January. However, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis may in fact be the biggest losers, after their million man march which they called for last Friday, in a foolish display of power that seems to have provoked the very forces that carried the flame of the January 25th revolution.

The political incompetence evident in the Egyptian transitional period encompasses all traditional political powers, including the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis who appear to be exploiting the erosion of confidence between the masses and the military council, the organization presently governing the interim period. The same goes for the ruling authority which has handled the situation with utter idiocy, having used force to break up several hundred protesters following the end of the Brotherhood and Salafi million (or half-a-million) man march last Friday. This led to the tragic situation with dozens of casualties falling, plus numerous attacks in Tahrir Square and the surrounding streets, not to mention the intensified demands for an immediate power transfer.

Amidst this highly uncertain scene, and when viewed from afar, Tahrir Square and the protests in the rest of the Egyptian governorates seem to involve spontaneous and unorganized powers mostly consisting of young people from among those who launched the January 25th Revolution. These youths feel frustrated with the political powers, the parties, presidential candidates, the performance of the government and the military council, and the vague details of the upcoming power transfer and its timeframe. These youths are also frustrated by the revolution being hijacked through rival currents vying for power; currents sensing that their right moment has come, especially the Muslim Brotherhood.

Amidst this bloody scene, we come to a YouTube video clip displaying what has been described as the expulsion of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis from Tahrir Square. This act reflects the mass weariness and frustration towards their slogans and maneuvers with regards to the shape of the new regime and the secular state which, according to Egyptian press reports, they want to change.  Here we can also notice foreign press reports, especially those highlighting the return of the true spirit to Tahrir Square. Copts have been seen standing up to protect Muslims while performing their prayers, after months of unjustifiable sectarian violence which flared up for unknown reasons and according to multiple different accounts, none of which were wholly convincing.

What cause the situation to explode in such a bloody manner, with grave consequences? Unless political wisdom is applied and leaderships with strategic and political visions are placed at the forefront, matters could get worse. I am talking about leaderships with the courage to direct country toward a national consensus, instead of the current state of political entrenchment.

What sparked off current crisis? Could it be [Deputy Prime Minister] Ali al-Selmi’s document [outlining constitutional “guidelines”], which has been the subject of several maneuvers over the past few weeks, resulting in the Brotherhood and Salafi million-man march, even though both currents had earlier approved of it? Or has the present crisis been ignited by the state of frustration resulting from the confusion dominating the political arena?

In my opinion, the present crisis has been caused by the state of frustration and extreme political entrenchment of all parties, due to their inability to reach an agreement on a framework of general principles. Al-Selmi’s document, or the constitutional governing principles, was proposed to all the revolutionary powers from the start, when everyone was in a state of weakness and uncertainty. However, as some parties began to feel gradually empowered, such as the Muslim Brotherhood which has temporarily allied with the Salafis, they began to believe such governing principles would not be in their best interests, if they won a majority in the next parliament. Meanwhile, the liberal parties, which were the first to call for the drafting of such a document, objected to the clauses requested by the military establishment, which aimed to secure its position in the new state. A compromise formula could have been reached had negotiations been held, instead of the current absence of confidence.

The scene we are currently witnessing reflects the fact that no one has understood the reality of what the crisis-stricken Egyptian masses want. This is because the real driving force behind the revolution has not been able to crystallize itself into a political entity with representatives and a voice. The Muslim Brotherhood’s slogans are not convincing to the Egyptian street, and outdated methods of running the country have become futile. In other words, there is a need to turn over a new leaf and start again. Even the results of the upcoming parliamentary elections might not accurately reflect what the street really wants, and so clashes may erupt again.

What is the solution then? The idea suggested by some political entities, to form a national salvation government in order to administer the transitional period, could be the way out of the current impasse. However, this would require a strong personality with exclusive competence, who could work within a fixed timeframe for the transfer of power. A figure like Mohammed ElBaradei – if this were agreed upon nationally – would be suitable for this role. The same applies to any other strong personality with the power to make decisions, provided they are not affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood.