In press statements on Tuesday, Farouk Sultan, chairman of the Presidential Elections Commission, said the election will be held on time.
The commission postponed on Monday a meeting with the presidential candidates that was slated for Tuesday when Parliament passed an amendment to the Presidential Elections Law that the commission considered a derogation of its powers set by the Constitutional Declaration.
It also demanded the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces intervene to help it fulfill its duties.
“The intervention of the military council, as an arbiter between authorities, was for the commission to carry on with the work it has started,” Sultan explained.
Officials within the commission said it is awaiting the decision of the military council.
However, Judge Mohamed Momtaz told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the commission continues its work, saying that stories the commission was halting its work were bad reporting.
“Reporters relied on interpretations of the commission’s statement,” Momtaz said.
Parliament Speaker Saad al-Katatny considered the elections commission’s statements an insult to Parliament.
“We have the right to give an opinion in accordance with the Constitution,” he said. “And as we do not interfere in the work of others, we do not want others to interfere in our work.”
The Nour Party’s parliamentary bloc also attacked the Presidential Election Commission for criticizing Parliament and suspending its work.
“The commission practices political terrorism,” said bloc spokesman Ahmed Khalil. “They want to deprive us of our inherent right to express public opinion.”
“We will continue to criticize who deserves criticism,” he added. “It is our role.”
Egypt's first post-Mubarak presidential polls are slated for 23 and 24 May, with 13 candidates competing.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
