Prime Minister Hesham Qandil on Tuesday commissioned Minister of State for Parliamentary Councils Omar Salem to prepare a report on the disputed articles of the Constitution, and on the Cabinet’s proposals as to how to implement the recommendations coming out of the national dialogue called for by President Mohamed Morsy.
One such recommendation was to form a committee of five law experts and five politicians to prepare a report on the controversial articles of the new Constitution.
Monday’s national dialogue session, which was chaired by Morsy, also recommended the formation of a committee to amend the Constitution.
Participating in the dialogue were Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, leader of the Strong Egypt Party, Mohamed Saad al-Katatny, head of the Freedom and Justice Party, Aboul Ela Mady, head of the Wasat Party, Younis Makhyoun, chairperson of the Nour Party, Ayman Nour, head of the Ghad al-Thawra Party, and public Islamist figure Mohamed Selim al-Awa.
The National Salvation Front, which includes leading figures Amr Moussa, Mohamed ElBaradei, Hamdeen Sabbahy and Al-Sayed al-Badawy, head of the Wafd Party, refused to participate in the dialogue.
Presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said Morsy is committed to the recommendations from the national dialogue, and would include members of the opposition who refused to attend the dialogue in the committee that would amend the Constitution.
But Amr Moussa said the Shura Council must first approve the recommendations of the dialogue as a collateral measure ensuring their implementation.
Presidential adviser Ayman Ali said the invitation is still open for all political forces to attend the dialogue.
Freedom and Justice Party head Mohamed Saad al-Katatny said earlier today that he proposed an amendment to the parliamentary election law during President Mohamed Morsy's national dialogue session Monday.
“I hope people would reconsider their [positions] and join us in confronting the chaos and violence,” Katatny said in a Facebook post. “At the moment, we should overcome our disputes and put the country’s security and stability first. Our hands are extended towards for everyone.”
The parliamentary elections law recently approved by the Shura Council has come under heavy criticism. The law which will govern the upcoming elections is laid out in the Constitution.
Opposition forces say the law will guarantee electoral success for Muslim Brotherhood candidates in the upcoming House of Representatives elections, and say that it disregards issues brought up during previous national dialogue sessions.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
