A man sits beside mock coffins symbolising Egyptians who died in clashes with riot police, at a street leading to the Parliament and Prime Minister’s office street near Tahrir Square in Cairo. (Reuters)
Egypt’s Islamists said on Sunday they would not accept any interference from the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) over the future constitution amid uncertainty about the army’s role in the process, as the SCAF’s newly formed advisory council convened for the first time.
“No one except the elected parliament has the right to draft legislation,” Khairat al-Shater, the number two in the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s biggest Islamist movement, said on Twitter.
Major General Mukthar al-Mulla, a member of the ruling military council told reporters on Wednesday that the army would have final say over those appointed to a 100-member panel tasked with writing the constitution next year, according to AFP.
“No one except the elected parliament has the right to draft legislation,” Khairat al-Shater, the number two in the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt’s biggest Islamist movement, said on Twitter.
Major General Mukthar al-Mulla, a member of the ruling military council told reporters on Wednesday that the army would have final say over those appointed to a 100-member panel tasked with writing the constitution next year, according to AFP.
The statements prompted the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party to pull out of the advisory council, which would have a supervisory role in drafting the constitution.
According to FJP member Amr Zaky, their withdrawal came as a response to the new, extra authorities granted the advisory council.
Zaky explained that the advisory council’s authorities had been amended to allow the SCAF to infringe upon powers that should only belong to the incoming parliament. Such a move, he asserted, would be widely considered “a circumvention of the people’s will,” according to Egypt’s al-Ahram daily.
But on Saturday, another member of the SCAF, General Mamdouh Shahin, said the army would have “no opinion” regarding the members of the panel.
The Muslim Brotherhood said it would stand firm in calling for a parliament with full powers and that the military should be judged by its actions.
Shahin’s statements “were good. But it is not words that count, it is actions,” Mohammed al-Beltagui, a senior leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, told AFP.
He noted that the army-backed advisory council had met on Sunday to discuss the criteria for the constitution-writing panel.
“We have a parliament that will be elected within a month, and the panel that will write the constitution should be chosen by parliament,” Beltagui said.
According to FJP member Amr Zaky, their withdrawal came as a response to the new, extra authorities granted the advisory council.
Zaky explained that the advisory council’s authorities had been amended to allow the SCAF to infringe upon powers that should only belong to the incoming parliament. Such a move, he asserted, would be widely considered “a circumvention of the people’s will,” according to Egypt’s al-Ahram daily.
But on Saturday, another member of the SCAF, General Mamdouh Shahin, said the army would have “no opinion” regarding the members of the panel.
The Muslim Brotherhood said it would stand firm in calling for a parliament with full powers and that the military should be judged by its actions.
Shahin’s statements “were good. But it is not words that count, it is actions,” Mohammed al-Beltagui, a senior leader in the Muslim Brotherhood, told AFP.
He noted that the army-backed advisory council had met on Sunday to discuss the criteria for the constitution-writing panel.
“We have a parliament that will be elected within a month, and the panel that will write the constitution should be chosen by parliament,” Beltagui said.
The advisory council meets
The advisory council on Sunday elected a former information minister, Mansour Hassan, as its president.
The members elected two deputies for Hassan: Abul Ela Mady, president of the Wasat Party, and Sameh Ashour, president of the Lawyers Syndicate.
Mohamed Nour Farahat, a leader from the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, was elected secretary general. Sherif Mohammed Zahran and Abdul Mohammed al-Moghazy were elected assistants to the secretary general.
Ashour told Egypt’s al-Masry al-Youm daily that they were elected in a secret ballot.
The council’s secretary general will act as liaison between the council and the SCAF. The council is to convene at least once a week, but may meet whenever the need arises or upon the request of one-third of its members or the head of the SCAF.
Twenty-four of the council’s 30 members were present at the first meeting. Among the most notable absentees were Coptic businessman and founder of the Free Egyptians Party Naguib Sawiris, presidential hopeful Amr Moussa, and president of al-Wafd Party al-Sayed al-Badawy.
The members elected two deputies for Hassan: Abul Ela Mady, president of the Wasat Party, and Sameh Ashour, president of the Lawyers Syndicate.
Mohamed Nour Farahat, a leader from the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, was elected secretary general. Sherif Mohammed Zahran and Abdul Mohammed al-Moghazy were elected assistants to the secretary general.
Ashour told Egypt’s al-Masry al-Youm daily that they were elected in a secret ballot.
The council’s secretary general will act as liaison between the council and the SCAF. The council is to convene at least once a week, but may meet whenever the need arises or upon the request of one-third of its members or the head of the SCAF.
Twenty-four of the council’s 30 members were present at the first meeting. Among the most notable absentees were Coptic businessman and founder of the Free Egyptians Party Naguib Sawiris, presidential hopeful Amr Moussa, and president of al-Wafd Party al-Sayed al-Badawy.
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