Morsi Goes on Offensive As Brotherhood Rallies Support
President Mohammed Morsi went on the offensive by declaring a referendum on the draft constitution on Dec. 15, Maggie Fick reports from Cairo.
CAIRO — Massive rallies held in Cairo and across Egypt on Saturday in support of President Mohammed Morsi provided a boost for the president after a turbulent week of demonstrations following his move to tighten his grip on Egypt's political transition.
The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's most powerful political force, billed the large turnout as evidence of widespread popular support for Morsi and his recent decisions, which have widened the rifts between the president's Islamist supporters and their opponents.
While Saturday's rallies were evidence of substantial support for the president, they came against the backdrop of an ongoing sit-in against the president at Tahrir Square and did not change the reality of a deeply divided nation.
Despite the lack of consensus on issues central to Egypt's future — namely, the new constitution — the actions of the president and his Islamist allies over the past week indicate that they will continue to steer post-revolution Egypt with what some analysts have termed an "aggressive majoritarian approach." This approach lessens the chances of resolving the current tensions and foreshadows future confrontations as a vote on Egypt's disputed constitution looms.
