New government sets direction
CAIRO – Egypt’s government set legislative priorities for parliament on Wednesday as it convened for the first time since a new constitution was passed, asking lawmakers to focus on setting rules for upcoming elections, regulating the media and fighting corruption.
The official confirmation Tuesday that the Islamist-drafted constitution passed in a referendum ushered in a new chapter in Egypt’s two-year transition from authoritarian rule, likely to be characterized more by legal battles and less by street protests.
The dispute over the constitution deeply polarized the country, reigniting mass street protests that turned deadly at times.
“We have now moved from conflict in the streets between political forces and the regime to a new phase of legal disputes over legislation and control of state institutions,” said Nasser Amin, the head of the Center for the Independence of the Judiciary and Legal Profession. “This is the most critical phase ... and the battle won’t be very clear to regular people.”
The constitution’s supporters, including Islamist President Mohammed Morsi and his government, had argued it would pave the way for more stability in Egypt and the building up of state institutions.
The main opposition group has questioned the legitimacy of the charter itself, saying it was rushed through without national consensus.
“Egypt constitution (is) void as it conflicts (with) certain peremptory norms of international law,” such as freedom of belief and expression, opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei tweeted Wednesday.
Under the new constitution, the Islamist-dominated Shura Council, the traditionally toothless upper house, was granted temporary legislative powers and began its work a day after the official results of the referendum said the charter passed with nearly 64 per cent. It will legislate until elections for a new lower house are held within two months.
“I congratulate the Egyptian people on behalf of the government for the passing of the constitution of the second republic, which establishes a modern democratic state where the people’s voices are heard and where injustice, dictatorship, repression, nepotism and corruption take a back seat,” cabinet minister Mohammed Mahsoub, who hails from the Islamist Wasat Party, told the session.
The government used the session to set its priorities for the coming period.
Mahsoub, the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, said the government will prepare new legislation for parliament to discuss, including a law to regulate the upcoming parliamentary elections, anti-corruption laws, and laws to organize Egypt’s efforts to recover money from corrupt officials from the era of ousted president Hosni Mubarak.