Sabbahi warns against danger of military president

Presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabbahi highlighted the danger of having a military president during a television appearance Tuesday, saying that a popular uprising against such a head of state could jeopardize the military institution.

The military would take the side of the public in a revolt against a civilian president, but a similar act against a president who hailed from its own ranks would put Egypt’s Armed Forces in a difficult position, Sabbahi said during an interview with private satellite channel Dream TV.

The Popular Current party leader, who came in third in 2012 presidential elections, is the first candidate to formally announce his intention to run this year amid widespread speculation that military chief and Defense Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will soon announce his own candidacy. In January, the military formally declared support for the potential bid of its leader.

Sabbahi has repeatedly emphasized his civilian background as his main advantage over Sisi. While criticizing the idea of a military president, the liberal politician said he considers Sisi’s motives for running to be patriotic and would be honored to have the general on his own team should Sabbahi win the election.

In the wake of recent bombings in the capital and other governorates, Sabbahi said popular calls for a military leader are understandable given fears of terrorism. However, fighting terrorism, he said, requires political and social vision, not only security.

In an interview published in the Lebanese Al-Safir newspaper Tuesday, Sabbahi, who is also among the leaders of the National Salvation Front coalition, criticized the state’s support of one candidate, saying it is detrimental to national interests. He has proposed a “partnership of principles” to Sisi through mediators that lays down basic principles such as releasing detained youth protesters and enforcing social justice. The defense minister, he said, has not yet responded.

Presenting his basic positions, Sabbahi said he wants to empower the military and is against chants that call for its downfall, but is opposed to some practices such as random arrests that have prevailed under the military-backed transitional government.

Speaking about regional politics, Sabbahi said Egypt needs to revise its position toward the Palestinian issue, and to base it on a realization that Israel is an enemy. Egypt has maintained peace and cooperation with Israel since signing the 1978 Camp David Accords with its neighbor.

As for the conflict in Syria, Sabbahi said that Egypt needs to stand by the country against foreign aggression, as the division of Syrian land would threaten its own national security.