The Court of Cassation has dismissed the case by the People’s Assembly (PA) to rule on the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC)’s ruling last month to dissolve the PA
The Court of Cassation has dismissed the case by the People’s Assembly (PA) to rule on the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC)’s ruling last month to dissolve the PA. The Court of Cassation ruled that it does not have the legal competence to review rulings by the SCC, the SCC being the highest judicial body in Egypt and the only body assigned with deciding on the constitutionality of laws or rulings.
On 14 June, the Islamist-majority PA had been dissolved by order of the then ruling authority, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), to enforce the SCC ruling that the elections which voted in a third of its members were unconstitutional, rendering the entire PA invalid.
On 10 July, however, the PA convened upon order of President Mohamed Mursi and asked the Court of Cassation to advise upon the application of the SCC ruling to dissolve the PA, a move which gave rise to harsh criticism since it contradicted all legal sense.
On the evening of the same day the SCC confirmed that its previous ruling was final and binding, and Mursi announced that he would respect the law.
His decree to recall the PA had sparked heated controversy in the media and on the political field, with allegations that he had violated the presidential oath in which he pledged to respect the law and the constitution.
The recent ruling by the Court of Cassation entirely blocks the way before the return of the dissolved PA.
WATANI International
16 July 2012