Mansour: We should not forget Sisi’s ‘great and exceptional role’

Interim President Adly Mansour has dismissed claims that his position is overshadowed by that of the commander-in-chief and defense minister, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Speaking in an interview with the privately owned daily Al-Shorouk, Mansour said he has faced no interference and enjoys full independence.

Mansour was appointed by Sisi following the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi. “I simply tried not to keep full powers in my hands. That is what people were complaining about — that is why I gave a lot of my powers to Prime Minister Hazem al-Biblawy,” he said.

On the nature of Mansour’s relationship with Sisi, the former head of the Supreme Constitutional Court denied any intervention by the country’s strongman, who also serves as defense minister.

“The man never asked me to do anything or not to do anything,” Mansour said, “and I swear that I practice my constitutional powers with full freedom.”

He continued, “But we should never forget the exceptional and great role this man [Sisi] has played, along with the Armed Forces, for the sake of this country. Without Sisi, Egypt would have been dragged into a civil war and all opposition would have been in prison.”

When asked about the reason he will not run in upcoming presidential elections, Mansour said he wanted to live his life “quietly.”

“Egypt is a big country, and [ruling] a country with such importance is not a game or a picnic, and I’m very proud of my position as the head of the Supreme Constitutional Court and I see it as more important than any other position,” he explained.

On the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, the interim president said the organization and its members have undergone a major change since the June 30 mass protests that toppled them.

The former judge believes that the removal of Morsi has forced members of the Muslim Brotherhood to re-organize the group's priorities. He said that some still embrace ideas of violence and will never give up on these ideas, while others have abandoned violence and left the group. A third camp inside the deposed organization has renounced violence but are unable to leave the group, he said.

With regards to the reconciliation process, Mansour said there could be no reconciliation with anyone who committed crimes against the Egyptian people or anyone found guilty of inciting violence.

“I will make peace with any citizen who feels he is part of this country, and acknowledges its value,” Mansour said. “Every criminal will be punished, but we won't exclude anyone.”