Moussa: There will be no return to the old regime

Amr Moussa, advisor for soon-to-be president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Mubarak-era minister, said in an interview to London-based Asharq Al-Awsat that Sisi’s presidency will be the start of the “third state.” He asserted that there will be no return to the old regime, and that the new administration faces severe challenges.

In the interview published on Sunday, days before the official swearing-in of former Defense Minister Sisi, Moussa said that Egypt is starting a new era in difficult conditions, having been subjected to violent turbulence due to the poor governance of previous governments. He added that the new president will need the help of teams of experts to take Egypt out of its crisis.

Responding to critical opinions of Sisi accusing him of adopting Mubarak’s policies and recreating his state, Moussa said, “There won’t be a return to any past regimes. Those regimes have proved their failure, how can we return to them?”

Moussa added that the interests of the public are guaranteed, since the people have proved that they will not accept bad governance anymore.

“We have to trust the new people who get mad and revolt and refuse. When people got angry at the Brotherhood, they took them and their Constitution down. Nothing is perfect, but the fact is that the people don’t accept the poor management and ignoring of their needs and interests, and don’t accept being insulted or underestimated,” he said.

On the subject of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been banned and witnessed a severe security crackdown on its members since its removal from power last July, Moussa said that they can return to the political scene if they reject violence, and announce their acceptance of the new order and the new Constitution.

Considering deposed President Mohamed Morsi to still be the legitimate president, the Muslim Brotherhood has rejected all the steps taken following his removal, including the passing of the new Constitution and the election of a new president.