Egypt President Meets Senior Judges Amid Row With Constitution Body

Egyptian interim president Adly Mansour met Saturday with the country’s top judicial figures to discuss the proposed constitutional amendments concerning the judiciary, spokesman for the presidency Ehab Badawi announced.

The meeting comes amid ongoing tension between the judiciary and the 50-member committee tasked with amending Egypt’s suspended 2012 constitution.

According to Badawi, attendees included head of the Supreme Judicial Council Hamed Abdullah, head of the State Council Farid Nazih and head of the administrative prosecution Anani Abdel-Aziz.

Senior figures within the judicial authority expressed their disapproval of proposed changes by the 50-committee, preferring instead the suggestions of a 10-member panel of jurists responsible for compiling a list of suggested amendments prior to the formation of the 50-committee.

On Thursday, Nazih met with the head of the 50-committee Amr Moussa and expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed amendment to reduce the functions of the State Council.

An amended constitutional draft, according to the interim government’s roadmap following the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi in July, is scheduled to be ready for a national referendum within 60 days of the committee’s formation in September.

Source : Ahram