FJP leader: Economic platform would restrict states role to coordinator

The Freedom and Justice Party’s economic platform would restrict the state’s role to that of a motivator and coordinator for economic activity, said Hassan Malek, head of the Muslim Brotherhood-led Egyptian Society for Business Development.

Malek rejected allegations that the Brotherhood is going to restore the former regime.

“It is unacceptable and illogical to say the Brotherhood and its party will reproduce the former regime through businessmen’s control over the country’s economy,” Malek said on Sunday.

“We will not act against our conscience, and we will extend our hands to everyone and be keen not to marginalize any faction,” he said.

Hussein Ibrahim, the FJP secretary general in Alexandria, said the party has yet to agree on who to nominate for minister positions.

“President Mohamed Morsy has the final say in rejecting or accepting any of the proposed names,” said Ibrahim.

He said all of society should participate in the formation of the Cabinet.

“No political faction, however big, can run the country’s affairs alone,” he said.

Ibrahim also discussed investment issues. He said several laws restrict investment.

“We had started to address this issue at the People’s Assembly, particularly the issue of monopoly. But the monopoly law never saw the light because of the dissolution of the People’s Assembly,” he said.

Ibrahim had served as an FJP leader in the People’s Assembly, the lower house of Parliament. A court ruling last month disbanded the assembly.

Ibrahim said that only former People’s Assembly Speaker Saad al-Katatny has information about developments concerning the Supreme Constitutional Court’s decision. He said any new elections that would be held after the ruling would be free.