Adapting to the Demands of the Political Game
SWP Comment 2013/C 27, 28.08.2013, 8 Pages Research AreasThe Salafi Nour Party's explicit endorsement of the July 2013 coup, its continued criticism of the Muslim Brotherhood and its cooperation with secular forces took many observers unawares. Of course, the first surprise was the party's strong showing in the 2011/2012 parliamentary elections. Since then the Nour Party and Al-Da'wa Al-Salafiyya (the Salafi Call movement) have emerged as important political actors. Access to the political scene has impacted their internal structures, positions and interactions with other players, initiating a process of moderation, albeit within limits dictated by doctrinal strictures. While not necessarily compatible with liberal democratic values, their record thus far suggests that they will remain committed to the rules of the political game and contribute to the inclusion of groups that might otherwise be susceptible to unequivocally anti-democratic forces, such as jihadis. At the same time, the Nour party has been faced with strong criticism from its constituency, which might lead to a fragmentation of the Salafi vote in upcoming elections. Still, Salafi actors will remain a force to reckon with in Egypt. Europe should therefore not shy away from engaging in dialogue.