Egypt Junta Names Panel to Reform Constitution in 10 Days

Egypt Junta Names Panel to Reform Constitution in 10 Days

 

Egypt’s military rulers gave a panel of civilian experts 10 days to revise the constitution as it warned that a wave of strikes sweeping the country was disastrous. The military took power on Friday when Mubarak’s corrupt 3-decade-rule was ended by an 18-day street revolt.
 
The military has temporarily suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament, however, it has pledged to oversee a six-month transition to democratic rule. Following persistent nationwide walkouts and street protests, the junta promised to rapidly restore constitutional rule after the overthrow of Mubarak’s corrupt regime.
 
Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces instructed an eight-strong panel of jurists and scholars which included Muslim Brotherhood lawyer and former PM Sobhi Saleh and respected Judge Tariq El Bishry former head of Egypt’s administrative court to begin amending all articles as it sees fit to guarantee democracy and the integrity of presidential and parliamentary elections.
 
The panel has been given ten days after the date of this decision, and must amend the articles to prevent giving presidents unlimited terms in office and the right to refer cases to military courts.
The constitutional panel immediately began work.
 
According to Saleh the armed forces want to hand over power as soon as possible, adding that there is a panel revising the constitution to remove all restrictions and obstacles, and to meet the aspirations of the revolution’s and the people’s demands.