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PDFThe Muslim Brotherhood today warned of a “life or death” struggle with Egypt’s ruling military. As secular and Islamists activists accused the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces of orchestrating a “soft coup,” the generals insisted that authority would be transferred to civilian politicians.
“Egypt’s ruling military council pledged today to honor its promise to hand over power to the newly elected president by the end of this month,” AP reports, “hours after Islamist candidate Mohammed Morsi claimed victory in the first free presidential vote since the ouster of authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak 16 months ago.”
Former Mubarak premier Ahmed Shafiq also claimed victory, even though ballots were still being counted.
But the incoming president’s powers will be minimal – akin to the prerogatives of the British Queen, activists complained - following a series of amendments to the interim constitution issued by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces through which it reserved for itself several presidential powers, including the right to declare war and exercise oversight over the military’s budget and operations.
“Military Transfers Power – to Military,” ran the headline in the independent newspaper al-Masry al-Youm. The Muslim Brotherhood labeled the military declaration “null and void”, while Nobel laureate Mohamed ElBaradei called it a “grave setback for democracy”.
“Egypt has completely left the realm of the Arab Spring” and become “1980s Turkey recreated,” said a leading democracy advocate.
“With the new Constitutional Declaration issued by SCAF Egypt has completed its full transition into a military dictatorship,” said Hossam Bahgat, the founder of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.
“The date of the 17th of June is no less important than the 25th of January,” he wrote on Facebook. “Our children will learn that this is the date of the end of the theatrics and the transformation into a military dictatorship.”
The decree will seriously impede the transfer of power from the military to elected civilian politicians, said Amr Hamzawy, a liberal MP in the now-dissolved parliament.
“[The addendum] means the SCAF has become a state above the state with wide legislative and executive powers, a veto on constitutional and other political matters, and stands immune to any challenges,” Hamzawy said via Twitter.
The addendum means the newly elected president will have limited powers, more similar to the symbolic post of prime minister, Hamzawy added. We are entering a transitional period with no time limit, he noted, and one that is more dangerous than the one we’ve just experienced.
“We need to use all peaceful means to challenge this dangerous scenario, as it is a national duty and a necessity,” Hamzawy concluded.
Activists and analysts accused the military of orchestrating a coup d’état.
“This makes it impossible to speak of a transfer to civilian rule at the end of June,” said Heba Morayef, a Cairo-based researcher with Human Rights Watch, said Sunday night. “It was a soft coup to start with, but now it’s pretty blatant.”
The military today rejected accusations of a coup and tried to play down the significance of the decree that diluted the power of the presidency and rendered the armed forces virtually unaccountable to civilian authority.
“Faced with the popular election of the first Islamist head of state in the Arab world,” the New York Times reports, “Egypt’s ruling generals sought …. to soften the appearance of their supreme authority as they entered a period of negotiations with the prospective president over the balance of executive, legislative and military power.”
The military’s claims won some support from independent analysts who questioned whether the decree amounted to a power-grab by the armed forces.
“None of this is new,” Harvard University’s Tarek Masoud told NPR, as the military had assumed full legislative and executive authority following Mubarak’s ouster.
While the dissolution of parliament could be described as a “thwarting of the will of the people,” the Muslim Brotherhood was partly responsible for recent developments in the country’s “Byzantine” transition process.
The Islamist group “alienated every important constituency,” including Egypt’s liberals and the judiciary which took “the opportunity to clip the movement’s wings,” said Masoud.
Other observers also blamed the Brotherhood for sectarian overreach.
“[M]any secular-minded critics allege the Brotherhood itself is partly at fault,” the Wall Street Journal reports:
It was the Brotherhood, in meetings with the military leadership, that had demanded the election law to be written in that way, in part to allow Brotherhood candidates to compete for more seats, people familiar with the talks have said.
“They did this to themselves,” said Hisham Kassem, a veteran activist and newspaper publisher.
Some Brotherhood officials are taking an unrepentantly militant stance.
“Over the past 18 months we were very keen to avoid any clashes or confrontations with other components of Egypt’s political system because we felt that it would have negative consequences for the democratic system and for society as a whole,” said Fatema AbouZeid, a senior official of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice party and a media coordinator for the Morsi campaign.
“But now it’s very clear that Scaf and other institutions of the state are determined to stand in the way of what we’re trying to achieve, and we won’t accept this anymore. Egypt will not go back to the old regime through any means, legal or illegal,” she insisted.
“If we find that Scaf stands firm against us as we try to fulfill the demands of the revolution, we will go back to the streets and escalate things peacefully to the highest possible stage,” AbouZeid said.
“The revolution is facing a life or death moment and the Egyptian people have put their faith in Dr Morsi to represent them at this time.”
But other Brotherhood officials spoke more cautiously, while analysts said the Islamists would try to avoid a conflict with the armed forces.
“This is the beginning of a very tough path,” senior Brotherhood official, Essam el-Haddad, told Reuters. “The beginning of it is dealing with the amended constitutional declaration that strips the president of any real powers.”
A Brotherhood statement disputed SCAF’s right to issue the decree but steered clear of direct confrontation, insisting that on the military “must keep its word to the people to hand over executive power to an elected president.”
“It is a chess board,” said Jihad el Haddad, an adviser to the Brotherhood’s chief strategist, Khairat el Shater. “They made a move and we made a move.”
“The next phase is a very difficult phase,” senior Mursi campaign official Khaled Al-Qazaz told AFP. “It already started with the military trying to take all power, which requires all Egyptians to continue the momentum of the revolution to make sure the transition is complete.”
The Islamists would be wise to avoid a stand-off with the SCAF, independent observers suggest.
“What the counter-revolutionary forces would like is for the Muslim Brotherhood to throw their forces onto the street. Then there would be a real pogrom,” a Western diplomat said. “That is why I don’t think it will happen.”
The Project for Middle East Democracy, a grantee of the National Endowment for Democracy, adds:
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) issued several amendments to Egypt’s constitutional declaration that will limit the powers of the incoming president and expand the military’s role in state affairs. The amendments give the military council authority to appoint a new constituent assembly if the previous assembly fails to complete its mandate, and the power to contest clauses issued by the body, giving it a de-facto veto. The amendments also allow the SCAF to resume the legislative authority it commanded during the period before parliament was elected. Additionally, the SCAF’s addendum to the declaration limits oversight and control of the military by the future president and provides a basis for the recent law allowing the military to arrest civilians. Speaker of Parliament Saad Al Katatni rejected the amendments and the decision to dissolve the parliament, taken by the judiciary and enforced by SCAF last week, saying they infringe on the legislature. Constitutional law expert and author of the previous constitutional declaration Tarek El Beshiri said that the SCAF does not have a legal basis for regaining legislative authority since the previous constitutional declaration did not address situations where parliament was dissolved, while Mahmoud Khudairi, head of parliament’s legislative committee, said that the next president will have the power to cancel the constitutional declaration. Journalists, political figures, and human rights advocates spoke out against the military’s declaration, citing the lack of civilian oversight and new legislative authority of the SCAF as major causes for concern. The April 6 Movement called for protests against what it termed a “military coup.” Meanwhile, the SCAF sought to reassure Egyptians and world leaders alike that it will not hold on to power, stating in a press conference today that it will hand over power at the end of the month and that the elected president will have complete authority.
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Sources
“SCAF expands its power with constitutional amendments”, Egypt Independent (English) 6/17/2012.
“English text of SCAF amended Egypt Constitutional Declaration”, Ahram Online (English) 6/18/2012.
“SCAF will retain legislative and budgetary powers: Judicial source”, Ahram Online (English) 6/15/2012.
“SCAF cannot regain legislative powers: March constitutional amendments author”, Ahram Online (English) 6/15/2012.
“Revised constitutional chart stirs up controversy”, Ahram Online (English) 6/18/2012.
“Katatny rejects complementary constitutional declaration”, Egypt Independent (English) 6/17/2012.
“Hamzawy: Addendum to Constitutional Declaration is a Retreat from Handover of Power”, Al Shorouk (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“El Baradei: Addendum to Constitutional Declaration is the Continuation of Military State”, Al Shorouk (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Sabahi: Constitutional Declaration Addendum Ensures Dominance of Military”, Al Shorouk (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Military will hold Press Conference Announcing Details of the Constitutional Declaration today”, Al Dostour (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Shahin: The President will have complete autonomy, the military will not interfere”, ElYom7 (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Khudairi: The Next President has the right to Cancel the Constitutional Declaration”, ElYom7 (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Revolutionary Forces Reject Addendum, Call on Morsi to retake power from the Military”, Al Dostour (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Assar: The military will hand over power to the President-elect at the end of the month”, Akbar ElYom (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
Both Candidates Announce Victory, Official Results Thursday
Mohamed Morsi and Ahmed Shafiq, rival candidates in Egypt’s presidential election, have traded accusations of fraud while both claiming victory. The official results of the country’s run-off will be announced Thursday, head of the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission Farouk Sultan told reporters. The Commission will also look into allegations of fraud filed on behalf of both candidates, calling the violations detected during the weekend vote “worrying.” Meanwhile, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi said that he won a majority of votes and would be the country’s next president, an announcement that was met with celebration by dozens of his supporters in Tahrir Square. Ahmed Shafiq announced that he had secured 53% of the vote and criticized Morsi for trying to make the election a “fait accompli” by announcing his victory before the official results were released. Egypt’s military council held a press conference to reaffirm that they will hand over power to the country’s elected president at the end of the month and that he would have full authority. Elsewhere, Egypt’s foreign ministry held a conference to announce the results of voting by Egyptians abroad and to investigate allegations of electoral violations. Sameh Ashour, who heads the SCAF’s advisory council, reportedly told the media that the upcoming president will hold office for only a short period of time as the new constitution will be drafted and new parliament elected.
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Sources
“Morsy declares victory in Egypt’s presidential runoff, Shafiq objects”, Egypt Independent (English) 6/18/2012.
“Shafiq’s campaign claims candidate is winning Egypt president runoff with 52%”, Ahram Online (English) 6/18/2012.
“Military Council will hand over Power to the President-elect at the end of June”, Al Ahram (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Egypt president inauguration end of June, says SCAF member ”, Ahram Online (English) 6/18/2012.
“Sultan: Presidential election final results announced Thursday”, Aswat Masriya (English) 6/17/2012.
“Dozens of Morsi Supporters Arrive in Tahrir Square”, Al Dostour (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“SPEC: Committee is not responsible for results being announced”, Al Dostour (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Shafiq Campaign expects to win by up to 53 percent”, Akhbar ElYom (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Committee overseeing vote of Egyptians abroad preparing to announce results”, Al Shorouk (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Elections body holds conference on expats votes”, Aswat Masriya (English) 6/18/2012.
“Shahin: The President will have complete autonomy, the military will not interfere”, ElYom7 (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Egypt Live Blog”, Al Jazeera (English) 6/18/2012.
MP’s Call for Sessions to Continue Despite Guards Blocking Parliament
Parliamentarians continue to call for Tuesday’s session despite reports of members, including the head of the legislative committee Mahmoud Khudairi, being prevented from entering the parliament building. Khudairi called on members to assemble to discuss the recent ruling from the High Constitutional Court (HCC) and the constitutional declaration amendments issued by the SCAF. Majority leader Husseim Ibrahim said that the People’s Assembly had not been dissolved and that the regular Tuesday meeting is still on, adding that the SCAF must respect the March 30th Constitutional Declaration which gives power the parliament. Saad Al Katatni, Speaker of Parliament, protested the SCAF’s ability to enforce the HCC’s ruling and said that parliament can only be dissolved by a referendum. He went on to criticize the decision by the SCAF to issue amendments to the constitutional declaration saying that the SCAF does not have the power to legislate in the presence of parliament.
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Sources
“Parliament is not dissolved: Brotherhood People Assembly majority leader”, Aswat Masriya (English) 6/17/2012.
“SCAF cannot execute High Court verdict: Defunct Egypt parliament speaker ”, Ahram Online (English) 6/16/2012.
“Dissolution of parliament ‘unconstitutional,’ El-Katatni tells SCAF”, Ahram Online (English) 6/17/2012.
“Katatny rejects complementary constitutional declaration”, Egypt Independent (English) 6/17/2012.
“Majority leader: Parliament to convene Tuesday”, Egypt Independent (English) 6/17/2012.
“Parliament and Military in Conflict of Wills”, Al Shorouk (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
“Parliament security deny MPs entry after dissolution verdict”, Egypt Independent (English) 6/18/2012.
“Guard Prevents Khudairi and the Mayor from entering Parliament”, Akhbar ElYom (Arabic) 6/18/2012.
