Undercurrent in the Egyptian political arena
Anh Huyen -
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| Former Judge Mahmud Mekki named Egypt’s Vice President on Sunday (France24.com) |
(VOVworld) – Egypt’s political arena is growing more turbulent as the power struggle between President Mohamed Morsi and Egypt’s powerful military clique becomes fiercer. In a surprise move last Sunday, Morsi appointed Abdel Fatah al-Sissi Defense Minister and Head of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, replacing Hussein Tantawi. Earlier, Morsi ordered Army Chief of Staff Sami Enan to retire. Morsi’s moves show that his administration is determined to concentrate power in its own hands. VOV’s Anh Huyen reports.
Although President Morsi says these decisions haven’t targeted specific persons or the rights of any interest group, the removal of the military officers could trigger a backlash as it obviously undercuts the political role of Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).
This is not the first time since President Morsi was sworn into office in June that tension between the administration and the military has occurred. Morsi’s election as Egypt’s new President after Hosni Mubarak was ousted has allowed the Muslim Brotherhood to ascend to power 84 years after the organization was founded. Last month Morsi had to make the concession of withdrawing his decree to restore Parliament, which had been dissolved by the SCAF prior to the presidential election on June 15th by order of the Supreme Constitutional Court. The SCAF wanted to reduce the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood whose Freedom and Justice Party of the Muslim Brotherhood won 235 out of 508 seats in the parliamentary elections.
Morsi’s discarding of Tantawi sets up a showdown which has the potential to end the political stalemate in Egypt. Tantawi served as Defense Minister for two decades under President Mubarak and administered Egypt after the 2011 uprising as leader of the SCAF. Morsi also annulled a constitutional declaration issued by Tantawi that handed over much authority to high-ranking military officers. Last Wednesday, Morsi reshuffled the country’s Intelligence Agency by appointing Mohammed Raffat Abdel Wahad Shehata acting director. Former Judge Mahmud Mekki was appointed Morsi’s Vice President.
But Egypt’s armed forces, which control a large chunk of revenue of the national economy as well as military power and still has the backing of Washington, remain a significant player in Egyptian politics. It remains to be seen what will be the outcome of Morsi’s surprise decisions.
Anh Huyen