Constitutional declaration includes roadmap for transitional period

A constitutional declaration issued late Monday night by interim President Adly Mansour includes in its articles a clear time frame for the intended roadmap of the transitional period. This begins Tuesday with the formation of a committee of experts to propose amendments to the 2012 Constitution, and ends with the announcement of presidential elections within a maximum period of seven months.

The constitutional declaration gives the interim president 15 days to approve the committee formed of constitutional experts and legislators who will prose amendments to the 2012 Constitution, approved last year in a referendum mired in controversy.

Within a month of the committee’s submission of these proposals, the suggestions would be presented to another committee of 50 members representing political groups, community and religious groups. They would study the proposals, and conduct consultations and social dialogue within a period not exceeding 60 days.

After approving the amendments of the two committees, the president would call for a referendum on the revised constitution.

If the amendments are approved, the interim president will call for parliamentary elections to be held in a period not less than one month and not more than two months after the referendum. Presidential elections will be announced a week after the first parliamentary session is convened.

The Muslim Brotherhood has slammed the declaration and the formation of a committee to amend the constitution. Essam al-Erian, vice president of the Freedom and Justice Party, the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, said in a press statement on Tuesday that ”the constitutional declaration usurps the legislative authority from the Shura Council [that was] elected by the people.”

Meanwhile, the grassroots  Tamarod campaign that first called for the mass protests against former President Mohamed Morsi on June 30 has harshly criticized the constitutional declaration on its Twitter account. “The constitutional declaration, which was issued in the dark of night, is a setback in the revolution, and gives the interim president the same Pharaonic powers and authorities as Morsi, who was ousted by the revolution.”

In another tweet, Tamarod said that the declaration’s first article, which states that the principles of Sharia law derived from Sunni schools are the main source of legislation, was adopted to appease the Salafis. Tamarod also claimed that several of the other articles serve the interests of the military and the Interior Ministry.

Others have noted that the constitutional declaration safeguards the independence of the judiciary. The committee that will be tasked with preparing the amendments to the Constitution will be formed of judges and law professors, though the relevant article does not specify what is specifically is required of them.

Political analyst Mohamed Naeem drew attention on his Facebook account to the article concerning the National Defense Council, saying that "the military is perfecting its composed melody," and adding that the article is void of any details about the formation of council or its duties.