Egypt In Turmoil
June 15, 2012
Egypt’s supreme court ruled yesterday that last year’s parliamentary vote was unconstitutional, setting off widespread unrest just two days before Egyptians are to vote for a new president in that country’s first free presidential election. The decision effectively hands legislative power to the ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces, which has overseen Egypt’s transition after the toppling of President Hosni Mubarak in February 2011.
Hundreds of thousands of Egyptians protested against the government of President Hosni Mubarak in January 2011. The sometimes-violent demonstrations led to Mubarak’s resignation in February. (© John Moore, Getty Images)
Presidential candidate Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood has declared that the court’s decision “must be respected,” but other political figures have expressed fear that the military is intent on maintaining its hold on power. Islamist politician Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh labeled the court’s decision “a total coup.” “Anyone who imagines that the millions of youths will let this pass is dreaming,” he declared referring to protesters already gathering in Cairo’s Tahrir Square. (Massive protests in Tahrir Square and elsewhere in Egypt in 2011 brought down the Mubarak regime.)
Mohammed Mursi faces former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq in the runoff election, which the military council has confirmed will go forward as planned. The council has yet to confirm whether it supports the dissolution of parliament, and if so, whether it will assume the power to write laws and draft a new constitution.
Additional World Book articles:
- Egypt 2011 (a Back in Time article)
- The Middle East: From Fall to Spring (a special report)
