US administration moves, anticipating Muslim Brotherhood wins in Egypt

The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party is expected to take significant gains in upcoming Parliamentary elections.

CAIRO: Officials from the United States reported that they would be “satisfied” if the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) comes out ahead in upcoming parliamentary elections in Egypt, set to begin at the end of November.

“I think the answer is yes, I think we will be satisfied, if it is a free and fair election,” said the administration’s special coordinator for Middle East transitions, William Taylor, who visited Cairo last week and met with several of the country’s interim military rulers.

Taylor, however, was not able to meet with officials from the MB. He would have, given the opportunity, he reportedly said to AFP.

“As long as parties, entities do not espouse or conduct violence, we’ll talk to them,” he explained, marking a significant shift in US foreign policy towards the MB.

In June, the US administration changed its policy about engaging with the Brotherhood, easing restrictions that once mandated that the US could only speak with MB members who were independent members of Parliament.

“What we need to do is judge people and parties and movements on what they do, not what they’re called,” Taylor told a forum at the Atlantic Council.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke with Egypt’s al-Hayat in October, touching upon the administration’s hopes for Egypt’s next government.

“We hope that anyone who runs for election, and certainly anyone who’s elected and joins the parliament, joins the government, will be committed to making Egypt work and be open to all Egyptians no matter who you might be,” she explained.

“We will be willing to and open to working with a government that has representatives who are committed to non-violence, who are committed to human rights, who are committed to the democracy that I think was hoped for in Tahrir Square,” she added.

Observers of Egyptian politics expect the Muslim Brotherhood’s affiliated Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) to win significant gains in the upcoming Parliamentary elections.

Some analysts have made broad comparisons between the Brotherhood and Tunisia’s Islamist Ennahda Party, who took the largest number of seats in recent the country’s recent assembly elections.

“This is something that we are used to, and should not be afraid of. We should deal with them,” said Taylor, speaking to the ascent of Islamist parties in the region in the wake of the Arab Spring.

The United States gives $2 billion annually to Egypt in military and economic aid in exchange for its peace treaty with Israel.

The Obama administration has asked Congress to give Egypt an extra $1.5 billion in transitional assistance, as well as debt forgiveness and loan guarantees, responding to the fear that a halt to aid could help to empower more hardline Islamist parties.

BM

Tags: Elections, featured, Freedom and Justice Party, Hilary Clinton, Muslim Brotherhood, William Taylor

Section: Egypt, Latest News