With mass protests looming this weekend, observers are asking whether – despite what seemed months ago to be popular, democratic protests – embattled Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi is facing the same political tidelwave in office after one year in office that long time Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak felt after thirty?
Earlier this week Morsi gave a speech and offered concessions under circumstances tenably described as… dire:
President Mohamed Mursi offered opponents a say on Wednesday in amending a controversial new constitution and a forum to seek “national reconciliation”, as he sought to avert a violent showdown in the streets. In a televised address lasting more than two and a half hours, the Islamist head of state blamed loyalists of fallen dictator Hosni Mubarak for the “paralysis” that has marked his first year in office but also offered an olive branch to opponents that also seemed to address demands from the army.
Morsi’s Wednesday speech was less than highly anticipated…
Don't expect much from Morsi's speech tomorrow as it's about "achievements" not mistakes.
— Khalil al-??Anani (@Khalilalanani) June 25, 2013
Morsi's speech on Wed nite will come after 2 days of Islamist dems across #Egypt, making concessions unlikely. https://t.co/KPB6rr0Fgb
— Eric Trager ????? (@EricTrager18) June 24, 2013
big speech from Morsi tonight. What's he gonna say that will change #June30? nothing he could only make it worse #Egypt waiting on the brink
— opinionated hijabi (@opinionatedhjbi) June 26, 2013
Morsi's decision to deliver a speech tonight is ill-advised if he doesn't make real concessions. Otherwise, will just add fuel to oppo fire.
— Basil (@basildabh) June 26, 2013
… and, once given, was greeted by critics roughly as expected:
President Mohamed Morsi used a televised address last night to offer an assessment of his first year in office, veering from calls for reconciliation to condemnation of the country’s political opposition. But political opponents say the conciliatory message came too late, and will not stop their momentum as mass protests calling for his resignation near.
The American embassy in Egypt announced early in the week that it would be closed during the protests, and on Friday emphasized a travel warning to the country.
“Since the arrival of (Morsy) to power, the average citizen still has the feeling that nothing has been achieved so far from the revolution goals which were life in dignity, freedom, social justice and national independence,” the Tamarod campaign states. “(Morsy) was a total failure in achieving every single goal, no security has been reestablished and no social security realized.”
[Photo: Takver / Flickr]