Progressive parties form new political bloc

Progressive parties in Egypt have formed a new movement that aims to create political mobility, contribute to amendments to the protest law, improve access to the government and boost political influence for civil society groups and syndicates, Menna Farouk writes for Al-Monitor. The movement, calling itself the Civil Democratic Movement, is made up of seven liberal parties and about 150 public figures. “Having the upcoming presidential elections around the corner was a very good opportunity for us to launch such a movement,” writer Ammar Ali Hassan, a member of the group, told Farouk.