What is more dangerous than the constitutional declaration?
Amr Al-Shobaki
Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper
The catastrophe of the constitutional declaration has divided the nation, Al-Shobaki writes. He acknowledges the efforts of the liberal and leftist opposition that called upon President Morsy to back off from his recent presidential decrees and to begin a genuine democratic process. The main problem of the constitutional declaration is that it clearly abides by the ideology of the most controversial political group in Egypt; the Islamists.
Regardless of Morsy’s excuses justifying his declaration, his announcement killed any possibility of issuing a constitution which fairly represents all segments of society. Al-Shobaki notes that the constitutional declaration was made to add legitimacy to a constitution that only represents one political faction. Al-Shobaki says that Islamists awarded themselves the right to dominate the Constituent Assembly just because they were the majority in the dissolved parliament, whereas all comments made by secular forces were disregarded. Unfortunately, Egypt has failed in the first democratic experiment that demanded shared responsibility from all political factions, Al-Shobaki concludes.
The constitutional declaration and constitutional face-off
Emad Al-Din Hussein
Al-Shorouk newspaper
Egyptians are now in a tight spot Hussein writes. They either have to vote ‘yes’ for the constitution or keep struggling against Morsy’s constitutional declaration. Several unanswered questions litter the political scene. Was Morsy aware of the consequences of announcing his constitutional declaration on Thursday? Did the Muslim Brotherhood orchestrate the timing of the declaration with the Constituent Assembly’s finalisation of the constitutional draft?
Hussein argues that Essam El-Erian’s interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour proves that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind all the recent developments. El-Erian has repeatedly said that Egypt’s only way out of the constitutional declaration is their ‘yes’ vote on the referendum. President Morsy voiced a similar opinion during his last interview on Egyptian television, in which he stressed the “temporary nature” of his declaration, saying it would end with the passing of the constitution. Hussein states that for Egyptians don’t have much of an option to get rid of Morsy’s declaration other than approving a proposed constitution that lacks consensus. Hussein believes that calls from Constituent Assembly head Hossam El-Gheriany for the withdrawing members to rejoin the body before finalising the draft was not enough to have a representative constitution.
Egypt in intensive care
Hassan Nafaa
Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper
After the Constituent Assembly ‘unanimously’ agreed on the draft’s 234 articles, Egypt’s first constitution after the 25 January revolution will be voted on in an extremely polarised atmosphere. Nafaa denounces the Constituent Assembly, noting that its spokesperson withdrew from the body. Reflecting his experience in the Constituent Assembly, the columnist reveals how some members would dismiss certain procedures to pass on certain articles. It was also staggering to hear of new articles being voted on in the assembly’s final session. An example was article 230, which states the transfer of legislative authority to the Shura Council until a new parliament is elected.
Nafaa believes that this article will not change the current situation where Morsy holds legislative and judicial authority at the same time. Nafaa compares the proposed constitution with a deformed baby being born. He finally calls upon Morsy to form a committee to work to resolve the situation. Although he does not support groups that call for the cancellation of the constitutional declaration first, Nafaa believes that one of the first steps to sort out Egypt’s problems is to appoint a new government. Egypt’s squares are packed with protesters. They will not give up demonstrating as quickly as many might think, Nafaa says.
The legitimacy’s shirt
Ahmed Al-Sawy
Al-Shorouk newspaper
As Morsy’s supporters and opponents continue to protest, Al-Sawy asks who defines the concept of legitimacy? Morsy supporters believe that as he was elected, the president is free to take whatever decisions he deems necessary. For them, his legitimacy is independent of any legal and constitutional framework. Those in Tahrir Square are calling for legitimacy too. The difference is that Tahrir protesters define legitimacy in its proper democratic context, Al-Sawy argues. He asks: are the thousands who rallied to support Morsy on Saturday sufficient to provide Morsy legitimacy? Did these protesters stand against the independence of the judiciary and support all exceptional decisions? According to Al-Sawy, pro-Morsy protesters blindly obey the orders, regardless of the content. If the president makes a decision, his supporters will automatically defend it without thinking of the legal and constitutional framework. Morsy has undermined his own legitimacy by his declaration, says Al-Sawy. If Morsy insists on his constitutional declaration, Al-Sawy predicts a battle against him and his regime; one to save Egypt from a deformed constitution.
