Shafiq resigns from party amid alleged clashes with government

Former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq announced his resignation as President of the Egyptian National Movement Party on Sunday, citing “the difficult conditions” he has worked under and vowing to remain involved in politics.

This decision comes amid widespread speculation over Shafiq’s relationship with the current government, with unconfirmed news that he challenged the authority of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Shafiq has been in the United Arab Emirates since he lost the presidential runoffs in June 2012 to deposed President Mohamed Morsi. Shafiq’s name has been put on the airport watch list due to ongoing investigations against him for corruption.

The former civilian aviation minister was acquitted in December 2013 of charges of taking over land owned by the Air Force Officers Housing Association, along with Gamal and Alaa Mubarak.

However, the prosecution kept Shafiq’s name on the airport watch list as it launched another investigation into the case, pertaining to the take over of other estates belonging to the same association.

Recently, unnamed sources have been cited in the media indicating a clash between Shafiq and the current administration coinciding with social media campaigns asking him to return, including one titled “You are the president.”

Privately owned Al-Shorouk newspaper published a report last month with the headline: “The state responds to Shafiq’s suspicious movements: forget about it.” The report quotes an anonymous “political source in the ruling circles” saying that Shafiq was caught trying to question the legitimacy of the current president and that he was asked to stop these activities by state officials.

Last week, Al-Asema satellite station refrained from airing an interview with Shafiq conducted by talk show host Abdel Rehim Ali, after airing a promotional advert about it in which Shafiq claimed he had a lot of information on important figures.

Anonymous sources from the station told the media that the reason it didn’t air the episode is that it didn’t want to get into trouble with the government.

Amid these rumors, Shafiq’s party actively aimed to make its position clear by putting up posters around the country with Sisi’s picture and the line, “We will remain in support of the president and we stand behind his decisions inside and outside Egypt.”

Shafiq announced his support for Sisi ahead of the presidential elections, dropping out of the race when Sisi announced his bid.