Beblawi backs Sisi for president in Davos speech

Interim Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi has given perhaps the strongest official endorsement for Colonel General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s potential presidential bid to date. 

Beblawi made the remarks on Thursday during talks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Sisi has not yet announced his plans regarding the upcoming presidential elections, although speculation that he would enter the race is running high — especially after the overwhelmingly positive vote in the recent constitutional referendum, which some see as a sign of popular support for the defense minister.  

“Sisi is quite popular among Egyptians, and he would make a candidate that a citizen can count on. But the final decision remains in the hands of the people,” Beblawi told Reuters on the sidelines of the Davos Annual Meeting.

In his speech, Beblawi dismissed any fears that a return to military rule would mean a return to the Mubarak regime, according to the privately owned newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm (AMAY). He compared Sisi to internationally renowned generals such as Charles de Gaulle in France, or Dwight Eisenhower in the United States, who managed to lead democratic governments despite their military affiliations, Beblawi said.

The failure of deposed President Mohamed Morsi’s administration ultimately led the Egyptian people to reunite, Beblawi asserted, “leading to the June 30 revolution which left the army no choice but to side with the people again.”

Beblawi further added in his speech that Egypt is a force of stability and peace in the region, and that its highly credible foreign policy allows it to play an important international role.

“No country can live on its own. We realize that and understand the importance of interacting with the world, starting with our neighbor countries, which we have strong historical ties with,” Beblawi said.

The prime minister also addressed Egypt’s current economic status, saying that his Cabinet now faces urgent financial demands, but nonetheless “the financial situation has been improving during the past six months, evident in profits made at the stock exchange market and improved credit rating.” 

Beblawi went on to express his gratitude for the “valuable support from gulf countries to the people’s revolution both morally and financially,” which helped fill the gap left by deteriorating tourism and foreign investment, according to the minister.

Following Morsi’s ouster, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait  announced a massive aid program of US$16 billion to help support Egyptian infrastructure.

Finance Minister Ahmed Galal said during his speech at the conference that the Cabinet would focus on political and financial development during upcoming months, to fulfill the people’s demands of rights, freedom, justice and security.

At this stage, the key to success would be a reciprocal trust between the government and the people, Beblawi said, adding that he was optimistic that “Egypt will succeed regardless of all the challenges along the road, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.”