Egypt parliament meets again, challenges its dissolution

Egypt's parliament asserted its authority today by reconvening in open defiance of the military, and decided to mount a legal challenge against its dissolution by a court, in what appears to be an intensifying power struggle.

The parliament met for a session that lasted just 12 minutes in line with a presidential decree, in spite of cautious warnings from both the constitutional court as well as the military council.

The speaker, however, resisted from sending out brazen warring signals and said legislators were not trying to contradict the judiciary.

The parliament session opened this morning, with Speaker Saad al-Katatni arguing that President Mohamed Mursi had not violated the court order by reinstating parliament.

Al-Katatni declared he will refer the decision of the High Constitutional Court (HCC) to the Appeals Court, and said the parliament is aware of both its rights and responsibilities.

However, lawmakers from several liberal and leftists parties 'boycotted' the session, with some describing President Mursi's move as a "constitutional coup".

Al-Katatni said he desired to clearly stress that the aim of the restored house was not to challenge the Constitutional Court as the house "respects the law and judicial rulings".

"We are not contradicting the ruling, but looking at a mechanism for the implementation of the ruling of the respected court," he said in a brief statement, aired live on television.

Last month, the constitutional court had ruled that election to one third of the seats of the parliament was invalid and hence the make of the entire house, following which the military disbanded the house.

Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party was the dominant force in the post Mubarak parliament.

Within minutes, Al-Katatni ended the first session of the reinstated legislative body.

The People's Assembly will not resume until the Appeal Court gives its verdict, interpreting Article 40 of the March 30, 2011 Constitutional Declaration in relation to the standing of members of the lower and upper houses.

While leftist and liberal parties, including the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Tagammu Party, Wafd Party and Free Egyptians, boycotted the parliament session, the Muslim Brotherhood called for a million march to support President Mursi's decree.

The prestigious Judge's Club had yesterday threatened to bring legal action against Mursi for "defying court orders".

Mursi on Sunday surprised everyone by issuing a decree that called for reconvening of the dissolved parliament until new elections were held.

The Supreme Constitutional Court said in a terse statement yesterday that all its decisions and rulings were "final" and "binding" on state institutions.

The sentiment was echoed by the powerful military council that underlined the "importance of the constitution in light of the latest developments".

As the MPs reconvened today, clashes erupted outside the People's Assembly. While the of Mursi's presidential decree that gives parliament authority to continue its work chanted "the people and the president are one hand", opponents of the order shouted "Down with the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood's rule".

The High Constitutional Court (HCC), Egypt's highest judicial body, was meanwhile reviewing four cases challenging Mursi's presidential decree.

Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said yesterday that it never resorted to taking "exceptional" measures during its interim tenure in power, and its decision last month to dissolve the house was based on the constitutional court's ruling.