Essam al-Erian, acting chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, has said that his party is insistent on preserving the People’s Assembly, which the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled in mid-June was invalid due to the unconstitutionality of the law overseeing its election.
Erian, in an interview with the London-based Asharq Al-Awsat published on Tuesday, said that he believes the Egyptian people strongly oppose Parliament’s dissolution, adding that several legal avenues are available, including holding a referendum on the issue.
Last week, President Mohamed Morsy reversed a decision by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to dissolve the assembly in application of the court verdict. Public opinion was divided over the legitimacy of the move.
The constitutional court later said its verdict was final.
Erian said the regime of former president Hosni Mubarak had managed to entangle the judiciary in politics, adding that the judiciary has been intervening in complex political issues with its rulings.
He added he hopes judges would take the people’s side and exhibit more understanding of their demands rather than only considering legal texts abstractly. He accused certain parties, which he did not name, of trying to pit the judiciary against the public will.
Erian described the stance of Morsy and the FJP on judicial verdicts as “tactical,” noting that both parties are aware that the judiciary is not detached from the political scene. He said the FJP does not seek to clash with the judiciary, but rather to ensure its independence.
He also said that the elected assembly tasked with writing the constitution should be the source of legislation rather than having legislation imposed on it. Erian was referring to the supplementary constitutional declaration on 17 June which was issued by Egypt’s influential military generals by which they held the legislative powers.
The Administrative Court is expected to rule Tuesday on challenges to the legislature’s dissolution.
