Morsi defies the military and Libya shuns its Islamists

A political standoff between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Egyptian military, resulting from President Mohammed Morsi’s decision to reconvene the parliament — dissolved by the Constitutional Court — leads the news of Arab dailies Monday.

“Egypt: Morsi challenges the military and revives the parliament,” reads the headline of London-based daily Al-Hayat. The daily writes that the move may be considered the start of a ‘”battle of powers” within Egypt.

Saudi-owned A-Sharq Al-Awsat, typically more critical of Morsi and the Brotherhood, writes that the move has “embarrassed the political and legal circles in the country.” The daily notes that “political forces” are accusing the Brotherhood of “pushing the country to anarchy.”

“A ‘Brotherhood coup’ against the Constitutional Court by reinstating the dissolved parliament fuels the clash of authorities,” reads the provocative headline of London-based Al-Quds Al-Arabi. Writer Khaled Shami calls the move a “dramatic new escalation,” noting that the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Nour Party control 70 percent of parliament.

“Morsi challenges the military again,” reads the lead editorial in Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

“President Morsi surprised everyone,” claims the author, “in a clear challenge to the Supreme Council of Armed Forces and the Constitutional Court… it seems as though the state of tension which prevailed before the second round of the presidential elections has returned with force.”

‘The problem with the car named Egypt isn’t just with the driver; there’s a problem with the engine of the old car’

Egyptian intellectual Mamoun Fandy uses a metaphor from the world of mechanics to describe the situation in Egypt.

“Egyptians feel that the car called Egypt will work better if we changed its driver, i.e., if we switched Mohammed Hosni [Mubarak] for Mohammed Morsi. But the problem with the car named Egypt isn’t just with the driver; there’s a problem with the engine of the old car (Egypt is a poor country), furthermore, there’s a problem with the roads in which the car drives (Egypt drives with no clear constitution indicating the road signs) and the problem is further complicated by the traffic lights directing traffic. The citizens do not want to cross the street in the area designated for pedestrian traffic.”

Fandy concludes that Egypt’s defunct system is unsustainable for governance in the 21st century.

Libya goes liberal

Defying the trend of its neighbors Tunisia and Egypt, Libya seems to be going liberal, as preliminary results of Saturday’s historic parliamentary elections indicate.

“Libya chooses to leave the cloak of the Brotherhood,” reads the headline of Al-Hayat, featuring a photo of Libya’s election committee members preparing to tally the votes following election day.

“Libya: The liberals advance and the Brotherhood is shocked,” gloats A-Sharq Al-Awsat, a well-known opponent of the Muslim Brotherhood. The daily reports a “landslide victory” for “liberals and secularists” over the Muslim Brotherhood, according to preliminary results.

‘Most candidates have nothing to do with politics. They are regular citizens who have no knowledge of public affairs’

According to the daily, the National Forces Alliance headed by former transitional prime minister Mahmoud Jibril is expected to win more than half of the 200-seat parliament.

“Will the elections end Libya’s problems?” asks Al-Jazeera reporter Khaled Al-Mahir. The answer he gives, based on interviews with liberal politicians, is a resounding no.

Abd-Al-Fattah Al-Bashti, head of the “Free Libyans” party, tells Al-Jazeera that conducting the elections before a new constitution is drafted will result in an unprofessional parliament, leading to shoddy politics.

“Most candidates have nothing to do with politics. They are regular citizens who have no knowledge of public affairs. They have no understanding of the constitution and of politics, and some don’t even know why they’re running,” Al-Bashti tells Al-Jazeera.

Annan arrives in Damascus

Syria still features high on Arab news Monday, as UN and Arab League special envoy Kofi Annan arrives in Damascus.

According to A-Sharq Al-Awsat, which has consistently displayed a hostile editorial line to Annan, the envoy has come to “resuscitate” his plan. Al-Hayat also notes in its lead paragraph that Annan admitted Sunday that his plan has failed and that there are no guarantees that it will succeed in the future.

Al-Quds Al-Arabi focuses on defecting Syrian general and Assad-confidante Manaf Tlas. According to the daily, the circumstances of Tlas’s flight from Syria are dubious, as the building where he resided in Damascus was heavily guarded by the Syrian regime.

“Seing as Manaf Tlas’s defection from the Syrian has not officially been confirmed either by him or by his family members, observers here in Syria pose many questions regarding his ability to leave the country,” writes reporter Kamel Saqar.