30 June was a victory, says Egypt PM
Ahram Online, Monday 30 Jun 2014
Monday marks the first anniversary of protests calling for Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to step down and for early presidential elections


Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab has said "the June 30 revolution was a huge victory and brought happiness to many people".

He made the comments in a televised interview with Dream satellite channel on Sunday.

Monday marks the first anniversary of the biggest wave of protests since the January 25 revolution, which called for Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to step down and for early presidential elections.

Mahlab also spoke on a number of issues, including President El-Sisi's meeting with Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz. He stressed that this meeting showed Saudi Arabia has strong ties with Egypt.

Mahlab also urged Egyptians, during the interview with Wael El-Ebrashy, to work during the holy month of Ramadan to overcome the country's economic crisis.

President Morsi became Egypt's first democratically elected president on 30 June 2012. However, his performance displeased many, including some factions that had supported him in the final round of the presidential election against Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister, who was perceived by revolutionary groups as an extension of the old ousted regime.

Protests broke out a week in advance of 30 June in Cairo, Alexandria, Daqahliya, Sharqiya, Zagazig and elsewhere. Masses nationwide took the streets on 30 June demanding early presidential elections.

On 3 July 2013, Egypt`s current president and former military chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, backed by opposition figures, announced the removal of the president amid massive protests.

Later the same day, the military unveiled a roadmap which included empowering the head of Egypt's High Constitutional Court, Adly Mansour, to run the country until a new president was elected via early presidential polls.

Since Morsi was ousted his supporters have been protesting regularly to call for his return. They have also called for an uprising on 3 July.

Morsi is currently jailed facing a number of charges in separate trials, including espionage and inciting the murder and torture of opposition protesters outside the presidential palace in December 2012.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/105112.aspx