The National Salvation Front has said it would not take part in any dialogue with President Mohamed Morsy unless he formally pledges to amend the disputed articles of the Constitution that was adopted on Tuesday.
Hussein Abdel Ghany, the spokesperson for the front, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that they had a meeting on Wednesday to discuss the political situation after the Constitution was formally approved by Morsy, while the Administrative Court is still looking at complaints alleging that the voting was marred by several violations.
Abdel Ghany called on all Egyptians to take to the streets on the second anniversary of January 25 Revolution against the new Constitution.
Front member and head of Egyptian Social Democratic Party Mohamed Abul Ghar also said that dialogue with the president must have a clear agenda if there is to be any positive outcome. He added that if the constitution is not amended, the front will continue to reject it by all peaceful means.
Front coordinator Mohamed ElBaradei said on Twitter that the Constitution violates freedom of opinion and belief, which are norms of international law, and that this renders the Constitution null and void, even if it was approved in the referendum.
The meeting also discussed preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections. Front member Abdel Ghaffar Shokr said the front is considering running in the next parliamentary elections under one list that includes all the political parties that are members of the front.
ElBaradei said Monday that if his party is successful in the coming parliamentary elections, the top priority would be the cancellation of the new Constitution.
The Constitution, drafted by an Islamist-majority Constituent Assembly, passed with 63.8 percent approval from voters in a referendum with around 30 percent turnout.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
