A mixed political system will safeguard Egypt from a new dictator, said Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Tamarod’s representative in the Constituent Assembly tasked with amending the suspended 2012 constitution.
The Tamarod representative added that the assembly has agreed on a general philosophy regarding the separation of powers, which will guide them in the process of amending articles on the system of governance.
Abdel Aziz claimed that the assembly is dedicated to ensuring a separation of powers by dividing responsibilities of governance among the president, the prime minister and the parliament. He also said that it is likely the party who obtains a majority in the parliament will have the right to elect the prime minister.
Wafd Party Chairman El-Sayed El-Badawi recently told the press that a mixed political system is “most suitable” for Egypt at this conjunction in its democratic transition.
The call for a mixed political system has also been voiced by several leading political parties in the past week, including the Free Egyptians Party and the Al-Tayar Al-Sha’aby (the Popular Current.)
Amid controversy within the assembly over amending Sharia-related articles, El-Badawi echoed the opinion of Al-Nour Party that Al-Azhar should have the final say over issues pertaining to Islamic law in the new constitution.
The assembly has recently witnessed heated debates among Bassam Al-Zarqa, the ex-representative of Al-Nour Party in the assembly, and other members over the phrasing of Article 219. The article defines the sources of Sharia principles, which “are the principal source of legislation” according to Article 2.
Al-Zarqa withdrew from a session last Monday in protest over a disagreement on the issue of amending Article 219. Al-Nour Party replaced Al-Zarqa on Thursday with one of its high-ranking members, Mohamed Ibrahim Mansour, citing Al-Zarqa’s ill-health as reason for the replacement.
El-Badawi commented that although he does not believe Article 2 necessitates the interpretation provided in Article 219, the matter should still be referred to Al-Azhar for review.
