The Constituent Assembly has reached consensus on the majority of articles and will finalize an initial draft of the new constitution within two weeks, said a Muslim Brotherhood leader who serves on the panel.
The statement came just before the State Council Administrative Court adjourned a case Thursday challenging the assembly's formation until a request to change the presiding judges is resolved..
Regarding the potential dissolution of the assembly, Sobhi Saleh told London-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper Thursday, “The Egyptian people will not accept that the military council forms an alternative assembly in the event a judicial ruling dissolves the current assembly.”
Last month the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces granted itself power to appoint a new assembly should the existing one fail to complete its task.
The plaintiffs in the administrative court case argue the now-dissolved People’s Assembly violated guidelines for the Constituent Assembly’s selection when it appointed sitting lawmakers to the body.
The People’s Assembly has since been dissolved based on an unrelated ruling from the Supreme Constitutional Court.
A request to change the judges in the case is also being considered by another circuit within the administrative court, which will reconvene on 30 July. The State Council Administrative Court adjourned its hearing of the lawsuit on Thursday until that matter can be resolved.
He anticipated the court would rule in favor of preserving the assembly, but said members are working at full tilt to draft the constitution before that date.
"The appeal submitted [against the assembly] lacks substantial grounds, and the reasons behind the lawsuit are not enough to dissolve the assembly," he said, adding that even if the assembly is dissolved, people will not accept an assembly appointed by the military.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
