• EGYPT
  • April 12, 2012
  • 2 minutes read

Respecting Rule of Law, Katatni Postpones Constituent Assembly Session after Verdict

Respecting Rule of Law, Katatni Postpones Constituent Assembly Session after Verdict

 Dr. Saad Katatni, Speaker of the Egyptian People’s Assembly and Chairman of the Constituent Assembly (CA), decided to postpone the CA session scheduled for Wednesday, 11 April 2012.



Further, Dr. Katatni said that postponement of the CA’s meeting came out of respect for the authority of the judiciary’s binding decisions and to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution and the law.



Earlier, the Administrative Judicial Court issued a decision to stop the implementation of the Parliament’s decision for 50% of the CA’s membership to be from within the two houses of Egyptian parliament, with the other 50% from outside.  The proportions of representation had been voted in by a democratic vote, when a majority of 86% approved it during a joint meeting of the People’s Assembly and Shura Council on Saturday 17 March 2012. Preceding that vote, parliamentary debate covered many options, including demands to choose all members of the Assembly from within Parliament, proposals for the contrary, and suggestions to allow representation of 1% to 99% of the panel from elected lawmakers. Eventually, a large majority voted for the FJP’s consensus proposal deciding that 50% of panel members would be from Parliament. Then, after extensive discussions witnessed live on TV by the Egyptian people and even the whole world, the mechanisms of election and selection of members of the Constituent Assembly were approved.