Younes Makhioun, Head of Nour Party (Photo: Ahram Arabic Gate)
Egypt's Salafist Nour Party will not ally in the country's upcoming elections with the Muslim Brotherhood or anyone from the Mubarak-era National Democratic Party, its president Younes Makhyoun told Kuwaiti Al-Jareeda newspaper on Wednesday.
The Nour Party leader blamed the Brotherhood for the return of Mubarak-era "remnants" back to the frontlines. When they took up arms against state institutions and the Egyptian people whom they infuriated with their practices, explained Makhyoun, the Brotherhood practically allowed figures of the ancien regime to resurface along with the masses who took to the streets last July demanding the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
The Nour consistently supported the political roadmap laid down by Morsi's opposition and the army, which eventually deposed him.
The party leaders exchanged accusations with the Brotherhood and its supporters who, in turn, accused the Nour of betrayal since the two blocs had been allies during Morsi's term in office.
Censuring the Brotherhood with harsh criticism, the Nour insists that the latter attempted an autocratic rule and failed at it. Makhyoun stated that the Brotherhood's moral, behavioural and ideological grounds are shaky, and condemned the group for allegedly demonising the Nour Party and society at large.
Makhyoun also said his party will not announce its support for any presidential candidate before the nomination period has opened and closed.
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