Parliament members from the Free Egyptians Party, the Revolution Continues Coalition, and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party abandoned talks Saturday about the selection of the 100 members of a constituent assembly that will draft a new constitution.
The members backed out of a session, held at the Cairo International Conference by the Shura Council and the People's Assembly, during which representatives discussed the selection process for the members.
Political groups have criticized the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the Salafi Nour Party, which hole the majority in Parliament, for designating too large a percentage of seats for their members.
Adl Party MP Mostafa al-Naggar and Karama Party MP Magdy al-Ma'sarawy walked out of the session as well.
The Adl and Tagammu parties announced earlier their withdrawal from the constituent assembly. Adl Party issued a statement saying "Constitutions can only be developed through consensus and participation, not by a political majority."
The statement accused the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party and the Nour Party of dominating the constituent assembly, which the statement deemed "against the national interest, does not achieve the desired goal which is drafting a new constitution that takes Egypt for a future without obstacles or constraints."
