Potential instability challenges Egypt

This is his latest concession following strong protest from the people against the constitutional declaration he issued last week. But it may not be enough. 

The Constituent Assembly voted for the final draft Constitution on November 29 (Photo: AFP)

Under the new document signed on November 22, the judiciary has no authority to veto, abolish, or amend any articles, declarations, or decrees issued by him since he took office on June 30 until a new Constitution is finalized and a new parliament is elected.

Analysts say the declaration limits judicial power, constitutes executive interference in the judiciary branch, and violates Egyptian law, which stipulates that the President cannot interfere with the work of the judiciary.

The declaration allows prolonging the time of Constitutional finalization from 6 to 8 months after the establishment of the Constituent Assembly.

After issuing the declaration, Morsi dismissed Prosecutor General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud and appointed a replacement. He issued a new law for the “protection of the revolution”, which reinvestigates assassinations and plots to kill protestors in last year’s uprising to topple the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi’s move has stirred disagreements among politicians, who say the President is trying to consolidate his power. Opposition forces, including the Association of Judges, called the declaration which protects his decrees from the judicial review as a challenge to the rule of law.

Former Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei warned that the decision would have serious consequences.

Egypt’s judges and press have called for national strikes similar to those that toppled former President Mubarak. According to the Club of Judges, 99 percent of Egypt’s Courts and Procedural agencies oppose the declaration.

Meanwhile, demonstrations have spread across Egypt demanding the government’s resignation. Protestors say they will stay in Tahrir Square until the President revokes the declaration.

The stock market reacted by losing US$4.8 billion on November 25, the deepest plunge since the political upheaval last February.

On November 29, Morsi repeated that the Constitutional Declaration will expire when Egypt has a new Constitution. In a televised speech, he explained his decision to issue the declaration and called for national unity.

Meanwhile, the Constituent Assembly on November 28 finalized discussions on a draft Constitution. Amr Darrag, Secretary-General of the Constituent Assembly said the Assembly will vote for the last time on November 29 and submit the final draft Constitution to President Morsi.

Darrag said the only solution to Egypt’s crisis is to finalize the new Constitution. But it’s no an easy task and Egyptians have to wait for a stronger government abiding by the Constitution.