Atlantic Council

Former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei condemned the SCAF’s insistence on drafting a new constitution before the presidential election and said he plans to establish new political party. In a meeting on April 15, the SCAF urged heads of political parties, including the Brotherhood, to finish writing the constitution before the May 23-24 election. The Freedom and Justice Party’s parliamentary council urged both houses of parliament to agree on the formation of a new constituent assembly in their upcoming joint session, “so that the SCAF will not have a pretext for prolonging the transition period. 

ELECTIONS: 

1) The Supreme Presidential Election Commission (SPEC) is expected to decide on April 17 Egypt’s which appeals by the ten disqualified presidential candidates will be reviewed. A final list of presidential candidates will be released on April 26. [al-Arabiya, English, 4/17/2012] 

2) Muslim Brotherhood MP Mahmoud Ashmawi has called on parliament to investigate allegations that state security and intelligence bodies pressured low-ranking police officers and their families into signing the recommendations required for Omar Suleiman to meet candidate eligibility requirements. Suleiman's presidential bid was rejected by the High Presidential Electoral Commission because he fell short of the 30,000 required signatures. [al-Ahram, English, 4/17/2012] 

3) Supporters of disqualified Salafi presidential candidate Hazem Saleh Abu Ismail are continuing their sit-in outside of the Supreme Presidential Election Commission (SPEC) to demand his reinstatement. [al-Ahram, English, 4/17/2012] 

CONSTITUTION: 

4) Former presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei condemned the SCAF’s insistence on drafting a new constitution before the presidential election and said he plans to establish new political party. In a meeting on April 15, the SCAF urged heads of political parties, including the Brotherhood, to finish writing the constitution before the May 23-24 election.  [al-Ahram, English, 4/17/2012] [al-Ahram, English, 4/17/2012] 

5) The Freedom and Justice Party’s parliamentary council urged both houses of parliament to agree on the formation of a new constituent assembly in their upcoming joint session, “so that the SCAF will not have a pretext for prolonging the transition period.” [al-Masry al-Youm, Arabic, 4/17/2012] 

6) Socialist presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabbahi said that elections should under no circumstances be postponed in order to resolve the crisis over the constituent assembly. Sabbahi said, “There is a binding date that has been announced for the handover of power to an elected president.” [al-Masry al-Youm, English, 4/17/2012] 

U.S. POLICY: 

7) On April 16, the State Department voiced support for “free and fair” elections in Egypt but declined to comment on the disqualification of ten presidential candidates. “Our only concern is that this is a free and fair and transparent process, that it move forward in a way that meets the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said, adding, “But it’s not for us to comment on the political process itself.” [al-Arabiya, English, 4/17/2012] 

TRIALS: 

8) On April 15, state media reported that a police officer nicknamed the "eye sniper" and 379 protesters will face trial for participating in violent anti-military demonstrations on November 19. [AFP, English, 4/17/2012] 

9) SCAF member General Mamdouh Shahin rejected suggestions that military judiciary cases be transferred to civilian courts, saying, “Military tribunals have been recognized by earlier Egyptian constitutions” during a Parliament session on April 17 that discussed a bill to amend the law on the military judiciary. Shahin argued that Parliament has already amended the military judiciary law to allow citizens the right of appeal. [al-Masry al-Youm, English, 4/17/2012] 

Photo Credit: Reuters