Morsi orders Egyptian parliament to reconvene

Published on 09/07/2012 00:00

Egypt’s new president has ordered the dissolved Islamist-led parliament to reconvene until a new one is elected, challenging the authority of the military generals who had dismissed the assembly based on a court ruling.

President Mohamed Morsi was handed power on 30 June by the generals who had been in charge since Hosni Mubarak fell last year. But, shortly before handing over, the army curbed some presidential powers and gave itself a legislative role.

Mr Morsi’s decision yesterday removes those legislative powers from the army and returns them to a parliament dominated by the party of his Muslim Brotherhood and its allies.

The state news agency Mena said the military council had held an emergency session to discuss the decree. A member of the council, who declined to be identified, said the generals had not been given prior warning of Mr Morsi’s decision.

He also called for an early vote once a new constitution was drawn up.

“President Mohamed Morsi ordered the reconvening of the elected parliament to hold sessions,” according to a presidential statement read out by Morsi’s aide Yasser Ali.

An early parliamentary election will be held within 60 days of a new constitution being approved by the nation, Mr Ali said.

Analysts said they had not expected an easy relationship between the army and the Islamist president.

“Everyone was expecting this to happen but not now, unless this decision was taken in agreement with the army council, but I doubt this,” said political analyst Mohamed Khalil of yesterday’s decree. “This means he is taking legislative power from the army council and returning it to parliament.”