Former presidential candidates Hamdeen Sabbahi and Amr Moussa spoke out Wednesday about President Mohamed Morsy's political deadlock with the military council over the lower house of Parliament.
Sabbahi said Morsy should emphasize his respect for the judiciary and the rule of law, and commit to the Supreme Constitutional Court's ruling that parliamentary elections were unconstitutional, according to a press statement issued by his former campaign Wednesday.
The statement follows Morsy's decision Sunday to reconvene the People's Assembly in defiance of the military council's dissolution of the body last month.
Moussa also said in a separate statement that Morsy must respect the judiciary and that its independence is the first pillar to establishing a law-based state.
"The current crisis must end in a reasonable way that preserves the prestige of the presidency and the respect and independence of the judicial," Moussa tweeted.
"This is not the first political crisis, and, certainly, will not be the last. Good management is in maintaining the institutions of the state and their prestige, and to separate between them," he wrote.
Sabbahi also urged Morsy to review the current formation of the Constituent Assembly tasked with drafting Egypt's new constitution, and to ensure a balanced makeup that represents all social and political perspectives. The first iteration of the assembly was disbanded for its lack of diversity and several political groups have also protested the second formation of the body for being dominated by Islamists.
New parliamentary elections should be held within 60 days after the constitution is drafted, according to Sabbahi's plan.
Sabbahi, who finished third in May presidential elections, also recommended hastening the release or retrials of political detainees in military prisons, as well as forming a consensus government.
