President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a decree appointing judge Ahmed Abuol Azm as the head of State Council as of Thursday, replacing judge Mohamed Masoud, whose term ended Wednesday.
Deputy Chairman of the State Council Yehya al-Dakroury plans to challenge the decree in the Administrative Court, citing violation of the principle of seniority, Council sources said.
Dakroury had been selected by the General Assembly of the State Council for the position.
The assembly had sent its recommendation to the president but it was ignored and Aboul Azm was appointed instead.
The move was in accordance to the new judicial authority law, which gives the president of the republic the right to select heads of judicial authorities.
Dakroury didn’t mention plans to resign from the Council, said the sources, adding that he will resort to legal action to appeal the decree.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
