Tahrir protesters mull blogger's presidential council initiative

Ahram Online , Friday 25 Nov 2011

Revolutionary groups debate proposal by Malek Mostafa calling for presidential council made up of presidential contenders and reform-minded judges

Bogger activist Malek Mostafa after being injured in November 19 protests
Bogger activist Malek Mostafa after being injured in November 19 protests

An initiative proposed on Thursday by prominent blogger Malek Mostafa is reportedly being debated by a number of activists currently hunkered down in Cairo’s Tahrir Square.

The initiative that Mostafa, popularly known as “Malcolm X,” posted on his blog page (“MalekX”) calls for the transfer of executive authority from Egypt’s ruling military council to a civilian presidential council consisting of would-be presidential contenders Abdel Moneim Aboul-Fotouh, Mohamed ElBaradei, Hamdeen Sabbahi, Hazem Salah Abou Ismail and Bothayna Kamel, in addition to a handful of reform-minded judges such as Hisham El-Bastawisi and Ahmed Mekky.

Mostafa, who lost his right eye in the clashes between protesters and security forces that erupted on 19 November in Tahrir Square, has proposed that the new council be charged with appointing a new government, planning for upcoming parliamentary and presidential polls, and restructuring Egypt’s judiciary system, interior ministry and state media institutions.

It remains unclear, however, whether protesters in the square will accept the initiative as is or insist on some modifications.

A press conference will be convened at 5pm to announce details of what many Tahrir Square protest groups are calling a new “revolutionary government.”

Mostafa, who was not in the square on Friday, has released a YouTube video in which he lays out his proposal.

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