Presidency wants court to explain ruling that suspended elections

Hend Kortam
2 Min Read
President Mohamed Morsi began his official visit to Brazil on Tuesday as part of a three day trip as the head of a large economic delegation. Upon his arrival on Wednesday Morsi is expected to meet President Dilma Vana Rousseff, Brazil’s first democratically elected female president. (AFP File Photo)
Presidency demands explanation of ruling  (AFP Photo/Stephen Chernin)
Presidency demands explanation of ruling (AFP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

The presidency asserted its respect for the judiciary on Wednesday and demanded the Administrative Court explain two of the principles included in the 6 March court ruling that suspended the parliamentary elections.

“The presidency asserts its full respect of the Administrative Court ruling… which led to the suspension of all of the Supreme Electoral Committee’s procedures and postponing the whole electoral process,” a statement released by the presidency read.

The statement comes one day after the State Litigation Authority appealed the 6 March ruling. The appeal will be considered by the Supreme Constitutional Court, Egypt’s highest court, on 17 March.

Following the appeal, the presidency said it is looking forward to reviewing principles included in the court’s decision, saying that the aim behind these clarifications is to affirm its commitment to upholding court rulings.

The presidency wants an explanation of Article 141 of the constitution which states that the president exercises his powers through the prime minister and cabinet of ministers which is why the court saw that the prime minster and relevant minister should have signed the law passed by the Shura Council before the law was issued by the president.

In the 6 March ruling, the court suspected the elections law unconstitutional and referred it to the Supreme Constitutional Court.

The Shura Council presented the law to the Supreme Constitutional Court which said the law is unconstitutional and that amendments to the law are required. The law was returned to the legislature and amendments were made but the amended law was approved by the president without being returned to the Supreme Constitutional Court again to ensure the amendments were constitutional.

The presidency will also legally analyse President Mohamed Morsi’s call for elections due to the difference on whether or not the call is a sovereign decision, the statement read.

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