EGYPT'S BROTHERHOOD NAMES PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
CAIRO, March 31 (Reuters) - Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, in a policy U-turn, said on Saturday it would back its deputy leader for president --an endorsement that guarantees Khairat al-shater a place among the frontrunners after the group initially said it would not field a candidate.
The Brotherhood said it changed tack after reviewing other candidates in the race and after parliament, where its Freedom and Justice Party controls the biggest bloc, was unable to Khairat al-shatir is the Muslim Brotherhood's deputy leader-bbc
We have witnessed obstacles standing in the way of parliament to take decisions to achieve the demands of the revolution
meet “the demands of the revolution”, a reference to its mounting criticism of the ruling army's handling of the transition.given the Brotherhood's strong showing in the parliamentary election and its broad grass-roots network, the group's backing for a candidate could prove a decisive factor. However, analysts say name recognition may also play a role in the race that could help others such as former Arab League chief Amr Moussa.analysts said the move suggested the Brotherhood, on the brink of power for the first time in its 84year history, was worried it could have that power snatched away after decades of repression at the hands Hosni Mubarak, who was ousted last year.
“We have witnessed obstacles standing in the way of parliament to take decisions to achieve the demands of the revolution,” said Mohamed Morsy, head of the Freedom and Justice Party.“we have therefore chosen the path of the presidency not because we are greedy for power but because we have a majority in parliament which is unable to fulfil its duties in parliament,” he said announc- ing the decision to back Shater.
Shater, 61, one of the group's three deputy leaders and a businessman who runs a computer firm, will be competing against several other Islamists who have declared their plans to run.
He has played a key role in the Brotherhood's economic policy and met the International Monetary Fund team which is negotiating a $3.2 billion loan facility with the govenrment.