The Democratic Coalition, together with other political forces and presidential candidates, gave the military council and the government an ultimatum of 72 hours to withdraw the constitutional principles document prepared by Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmy. They said they are postponing their final decision regarding whether to hold a demonstration slated for 18 November until after the ultimatum.
The political forces rejecting the document met at the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party on Sunday to determine a unified stance vis-a-vis the document and the demonstration.
“We need to end the controversy over the document and concentrate on parliamentary elections,” said party secretary general Saad al-Katatny, adding that participants at the meeting supported the idea that the constitutional documents proposed by Al-Azhar and the Democratic Coalition would be advisory – but not obligatory – for the committee designated to write the new constitution.
The meeting’s participants issued a statement that said the military council and the Supreme Administrative Court’s decision to grant the military the right to object to the constitutional committee was contradictory to national consensus and the will of the people. It said that the decision also contradicts the document itself, which states that the people are the source of power.
The statement also said that the armed forces play a special role in regards to national security, a role that should be defined in the new constitution and the military budget, without the need for a constitutional declaration.
Islamist forces have declared their participation in the 18 November demonstration, which they called the “second” revolution.
“We call on the people to take part in the demonstration if the document is not withdrawn,” said Muslim Brotherhood Deputy General Guide Khairat al-Shater.
Also, presidential candidate Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh announced his opposition. “Those who prepared that document have no legitimacy,” he said, while his competitor Ayman Nour said his opposition is contingent on the response of the state to the will of the people.
Meanwhile, the National Association for Change (NAC) warned of a “minor” coup if the political forces continued to disagree among themselves over the constitutional document and the committee, as the military council may arbitrarily appoint the committee in case the matter reaches a deadlock.
In a statement on Sunday, the NAC urged the people not to follow certain “anti-democratic” forces that object to the basic principles of the constitution, calling for the need to agree on principles that prevent the army from becoming a state within the state.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
