Members of the dissolved People’s Assembly decided to suspend their sit-in on Sunday, which was held in front of the Supreme Constitutional Court in Cairo.
The sit-in was held in conjunction with the court cases raised by Mohammed El-Omda, member of the dissolved assembly, and Anwar Sobhy Darweesh, who brought the initial lawsuit demanding the parliament be dissolved. The Supreme Constitutional Court will consider the lawsuits on Tuesday.
Major General Adel Abbas, chairperson of the Egyptian Arab Socialist Party, confirmed his party’s participation in the sit-in, and said the decision to suspend it was taken because most of the demonstrating members are travelling on Monday morning to Gaza, in support of the civilians injured during the Israeli bombings.
Abbas called the verdict issued by the Constitutional Court void, because it was called to provide legal opinion regarding the constitutionality of one third of the People’s Assembly, however it ruled out the whole assembly instead.
El-Omda said that Egypt requires a strong legislative authority to draft laws that would help in solving many of the ongoing issues.
He said that the Freedom and Justice, Al-Wasat and the Reform and Development parties are participating in the sit-in, in addition to Egyptian Arab Socialist Party.
Ahmed Sobei’, Freedom and Justice party spokesperson, confirmed the participation of his party, but did not provide any further information
Amr Farouk, spokesperson of Al-Wasat Party denied his party’s participation in the sit-in.
Abdallah Helmy, head of the political office at the Reform and Development party, said that the members of his party respected president Morsy’s decision to hold new parliamentary elections after the new constitution is adopted. He added that members of the party are not participating, as they are currently busy with the final steps of drafting the constitution.
Ibrahim Darwish, constitutional expert, said that these attempts are useless; saying that the People’s Assembly is dissolved by the power of law, which no one can override.
“No one can bring the dissolved People’s Assembly back, not the court, not the government, and not the president, who already tried to do so before,” said Darwish.
