• EGYPT
  • June 28, 2013
  • 6 minutes read

Excerpts from Egyptian President Morsi Wednesday 26 June Speech

Excerpts from Egyptian President Morsi Wednesday 26 June Speech

* President Morsi’s speech Wednesday included a number of revolutionary decisions with a short timetable (a week) for implementation. In fact, some of those took effect immediately upon completion of the President’s speech. These decisions included:


1. Mandating the Minister of Interior to form a special unit to combat thuggery and riots to protect citizens’ lives and property.


2. Forming an independent committee to conduct constitutional amendments proposed by all parties. Suggestions will be collected and presented to parliament as Presidential Proposals.


3. Forming a higher committee for national reconciliation to work on the preparation of reconciliation procedures among all state institutions and authorities, and to establish agreement on the national axes of action for the coming period.


4. Mandating ministers and governors to dismiss all those responsible for fabricating crises faced by citizens, within a week.


5. Withdrawing licenses of all gasoline stations that refuse to receive or sell fuel to citizens; and mandating the Ministry of Supply to take over fuel stations that fail to do their duties.


6. Obliging governors to appoint young assistants – not over 40 years of age, within 4 weeks from now.


Messages in the President’s speech:


1. To the opposition: If they do not like the current government, they should work to get a parliamentary majority to form a new government, which – as per Egypt’s Constitution – will hold a large part of the president’s powers.


2. To old regime holdovers: The President warned remnants of the former regime who are destroying the homeland to stop their subversive activities. He said: "I assure the failed and the corrupt that Egypt will either have social justice for all, turn a new page, and have an understanding (of peaceful coexistence) – there is enough room for all in this homeland; let’s let bygones be bygones, except for punishable crimes, or there will be no place for you in this country outside prison – according to the rule of law." He further asked: "If demonstration is a way to impose opinions, can security and stability ever be achieved?"


3. To the Ministry of Interior: The President reaffirmed its national role that cannot be denied. He added, "We fully support you; all Egyptians do."


4. To Egypt’s judges: "Certain judges engaging in politics befuddled the judiciary as well as politics, while certain judges appearing like politicians in conferences, public forums and the media is, according to the customs of Egyptian judiciary, inconsistent with the prestige of the judiciary. So, people’s trust in the law was shaken, and the political scene was confused by repeated interferences in political decision-making, and by the intervention in sovereign matters which do not fall within the judiciary’s function. I know that there are continuous attempts from within the judicial institution to seriously and sincerely reform it, and I do hope to see their effect quickly to maintain the majestic image of Egyptian justice. "


5. To the Constitutional Court: The President appealed to the Constitutional Court to quickly finish its review of the amended legislative election law so the Electoral Commission can call for elections without further delay, in order to achieve the desired political stability.


6. To the Armed Forces: The President said they were and will remain the protective shield of Egypt, and that they have all the respect and appreciation of all citizens. They managed the country in a delicate stage of its history, then returned to their barracks and their duties of protecting the homeland, and still face significant challenges. The President further described rumors alleging problems in the relationship between the presidency and the army as simply cheap distasteful rumors.