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NOVEL PEACE LAUREATE Mohamed ElBaradei called for the Muslim Brotherhood to be included in Egypt’s political future, in a media interview conducted before his candidacy as interim premier hit opposition.
ElBaradei told German news weekly Der Spiegel in remarks published Sunday that members of the Muslim Brotherhood camp of ousted president Mohamed Morsi should not be treated as criminals.
“I am calling for inclusion of the Brotherhood in the democratisation process,” he said in comments printed in German.
“No one should be taken to court without a convincing reason. Former president Morsi must be treated with dignity,” he added, calling such principles “preconditions for national reconciliation”.
Asked whether he feared becoming a “fig leaf” for the military, which deposed Morsi Wednesday, ElBaradei insisted the generals were listening to his concerns.
“My red line is that I won’t work with anyone who does not respect tolerance and democracy,” he said.
ElBaradei said he expected new elections “at the latest in one year’s time” and said he could accept another Muslim Brotherhood victory if it respected democratic principles.
He called on Germany, which has committed around 100 million euros ($128 million) to a so-called “transformation partnership” in Arab Spring countries such as Egypt, to respect the decision to oust Morsi following criticism from Berlin of the move.
The Germans in particular know “how difficult it is to build a democracy after a dictatorship and they were the first ones to criticise Morsi’s anti-democratic policies”, he said, referring to Germany’s experiences after the Nazi and communist regimes.
“Let me be clear — this was not a coup,” he said. “More than 20 million people took to the streets because it could not continue like that.”
The official MENA news agency said on Saturday that caretaker president Adly Mansour had appointed ElBaradei as interim premier, only for his office to later deny any final decision had been taken.
Supporters and opponents of Morsi planned rival rallies Sunday amid mounting fears for the country’s stability.
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I think this is a backward step. It will definitely add to the stress I already feel as a carer trying to protect a vulnerable family member. This means pensioners and carers will have to visit post offices and banks weekly instead of fortnightly which will increase their risk of contracting the virus, it doesn’t make sense, with the virus so prevalent in our communities. We are still supposed to be social distancing or does Heather Humphreys live on another planet.
@Teresa O’Halloran: Why not do it digitally?
@Teresa O’Halloran: you clearly haven’t read the article properly. It states pensions, widows and carers remain fortnightly.
@Teresa O’Halloran: It will not mean pensionsers and carers will have to visit the post offices and banks weekly. They can go weekly, fortnightly or even monthly if they like. Payments can be collected for up to 90 days.
@Vic’s Burd: Maybe you should read it again
@Vic’s Burd: Well VB it’s yourself who clearly hasn’t read the article properly. It clearly states pensions,widows and carers goes weekly from November 2nd.
@Vic’s Burd: However, the State pension contributory, non-contributory, widows pensions, carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit remained fortnightly.
Recipients of these payments will receive their last double week payment on the week beginning Monday 19 October.
From 2 November, recipients of all of the above payments will be paid weekly again.
@Vic’s Burd: However, the State pension contributory, non-contributory, widows pensions, carer’s allowance and carer’s benefit remained fortnightly.
Recipients of these payments will receive their last double week payment on the week beginning Monday 19 October.
@Nial Mor: ah I stand corrected! The way this article is written, it seems to refer to other payments and exclude these.
@Vic’s Burd: read the article properly. Clearly states, Pensions, carers, etc will resume weekly
On the 19th of October.
@Jeannie Laing: correction, last double payment
On 19th of October..
@Nick Caffrey: A carer cannot do it digitally because they’re collecting someone else’s money. I’m a carer for my Daughter and I have to attend the post office in person as my Daughter’s agent. Monies in her name cannot go into my account as that’s illegal. She cannot have her own account because she’s severely mentally and physically challenged. ( No speech, No brain processing to write etc).
@Vic’s Burd: you’re one hasn’t read it properly, widows carers and disability were left at every two weeks when others changed a few wks ago but every payment is to go back to weekly from next month. Read it again
@Vic’s Burd: does it ?
That’ll be hygienic, with their electronic pen signature, congregated settings, social understanding.
@longstrides: Electronoc pens have not been used in Post Offices since the start of the pandemic
@longstrides: “their social understanding” – would you like go elaborate on that?
@longstrides: I collect my payment weekly. I hand over my card. They wear gloves. I get the card back, the money and the receipt. That’s it. No signing for anything.
@Mirabelle Stonegate: gloves are pointless unless they’re changing gloves between each customer
@Angela Brady: not true. I had to pay a bill in the gpo last week and I noticd all the people receiving payments were having to use the pen and screen. I was shocked.
@A d d y o u r n a m e: gloves are more for the employee, should wash or sanitise your hands when you leave anywhere if you’re serious about this virus
@Angela Brady: They’ve been using the pen and screen in my local PO again for a good while now – it’s way too soon especially with cases rising again
It’s a good thing. People were spending the double week and had nothing for the second week. Then turning to charities for help.
@Dave Barrett: Wouldn’t that be their own fault for not better managing their own finances then?
@Ailín: it would. But as you know budgeting can go out the window when it seems like you get a wind fall.
Electronic pens have not been used in Post Offices since the start of the Pandemic last March
@Angela Brady: they are indeed still been used I saw folk using them last week when I was posting a parcel
@Tom Harpur Photography: they are not used in my post office since March.
@Teresa O’Halloran: mine neither
@Angela Brady: Depends on the An Post branch, it seems. In my local they’re still used.
Usual st#pidity from government. Level 3 likely to go up another level or 2 and now pushing the most vulnerable to cluster for their payments.
@Derek Anderson: If by most vunerable you mean pensioners, you are wrong. Pensioners can collect their payment any day within a period of 12 weeks after the payment has been authorised.
Why does she have to refer to citizens as customers?
It really is The Hunger Games, Ireland edition. We are currently facing a massive rise is cases and these clowns want the vunrable who still collect their money in person heading to the post office more often. This will probably mean more people switching to bank payments. Good for the banks and all those extra charges they will collect, bad for post offices, some of which will end up closing from loss of long term footfall business.
@Carol Oates: it can be collected weekly but also you can wait and still collect it fortnightly. I
@Carol Oates: They don’t have to change they can still collect there money ever 2 weeks they can even leave it there for 90 days if they want to
I have never signed for my Pension since this Pandemic started… I am only asked to read my pps no from. the back of the card…
If we go to level 5 will it go back.?
Will that get rid of the virus.
Ok bit could you make it a week from there last payment and not decide to change the payment day and leave those in need v short
Why would anybody be short? They are getting a double week on the 19th and then weekly from the 2nd.
@Richard: they shouldn’t be short. They are getting the same amount of money only over a longer period but they spend it then rely on the state to help them out. No personal responsibility whatsoever
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