President Mohamed Morsy’s position will not be affected by a challenge from former rival Ahmed Shafiq over presidential election results, a source at the Presidential Elections Commission told state-run Al-Akhbar.
On Monday, Chief Prosecutor Abdel Meguid Mahmoud opened an investigation into Shafiq's complaint, which alleged incidents of ballot forgery and that Copts were prevented from voting in the runoff elections.
Shafiq's Egyptian National Movement Party also claimed on its Facebook page Tuesday that Morsy took office as the result of a deal between the Muslim Brotherhood, the Freedom and Justice Party and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. It claimed that under the deal, military leaders let Morsy win in exchange for the power to appoint the ministers of defense, interior and foreign affairs, and Morsy's agreement to discuss decisions with the military council.
But the anonymous source told Al-Akhbar that, by law, the election results cannot be challenged even if prosecutors define suspects and file charges against them. Article 28 of the Constitutional Declaration stipulates that Presidential Elections Commission decisions are final.
The source, however, said investigators should tackle Shafiq’s claim that ballot papers were tampered with at state print houses, noting that the commission had requested an investigation into the same issue.
The commission believes the challenge concerning Copts is unfounded, according to the same source.
Morsy won the runoff with 51.7 percent of the vote to Shafiq's 48.3 percent.
Shafiq, who traveled to the United Arab Emirates following the defeat, is standing trial in absentia for selling land owned by a pilots' association to former President Hosni Mubarak's sons, Alaa and Gamal Mubarak, for below-market rates. He will also stand trial in November for financial corruption during his term as aviation minister.
Liberal reform advocate Saad Eddin Ibrahim, a leading figure of the Egyptian National Movement, defended Shafiq Wednesday.
He accused the Brotherhood of targeting Shafiq and said lawsuits against the former prime minister are politicized and fabricated.
Ibrahim claimed that nearly 7000 observers had confirmed Shafiq’s victory in the runoffs.
“The battle over presidency should have been over after Morsy assumed office, but the Brotherhood preferred to exterminate all alternatives to Islamists, though Shafiq had accepted the election results and congratulated Morsy for his victory,” Ibrahim said.
