Morsy faces challenges orders parliament to reconvene

 
Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi has ordered the nation's parliament to reconvene. This is in defiance of the Supreme Constitutional Court's decision to dissolve the legislature. Military generals who had ruled the country following last year's ouster of President Hosni Mubarak dissolved the Islamist-dominated parliament in June based on the court's decision.The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that parliamentary elections in which political parties associated with the Muslim Brotherhood won a majority were unconstitutional. Supreme Council for the Armed Forces held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening to discuss the implications of President Mohamed Morsy's decision to reconvene People's Assembly until parliamentary elections are held, sources from within the council told Al-Masry Al-Youm
The sources said that the decision "was a surprise to everyone, including the military council.”
Major General Sayed Hashem, a former military prosecutor, was not so quick to condemn the decision. "We must know the reasons for this decision, and the circumstances that led to its release," Hashem told al-Masry al-Youm."The return of the legislative body is temporary until the re-instatement of a permanent constitution. Holding these modified elections would mean recognition of the invalidity of Parliament’s original formation," he added.

Islamist group backed Morsi who won last month's presidential run-off.At his inauguration late last month, Morsi declared a transfer of power from the military rulers to the presidency. But the military still retains the power to enact laws.At his inauguration late last month, Morsi declared a transfer of power from the military rulers to the presidency. But the military still retains the power to enact laws.Morsi's decision to annul the parliament's dissolution could lead to a confrontation with the military and a fresh round of political turmoil as some political experts believe.

Parliament Speaker Saad al-Katatny announced on Sunday that he welcomes President Mohamed Morsy's decision to repeal the decision by the Supreme Council for the Armed Force to dissolve the People's Assembly.Katatny called on Parliament to reconvene and begin work immediately. He said Morsy's decision is "respectful to the supremacy of the law and public institutions."

In a press release, Katatny added that "the People's Assembly will resume its legislative oversight powers immediately once it is in session within hours, in respect of the legitimacy of the Constitution and the law."

Morsy had issued a decree on Sunday to nullify the Supreme Constitutional Court's decision to dissolve the assembly, so it could resume its work.

Presidential representatives provided brief statements on political decisions, but its internal mechanisms were always shielded from the public eye.The presidency comprises nine departments: general and private secretariats, a communications office, the presidential police, and departments dealing with security, supplies, transportation, palaces and fire hazards in presidential buildings.The Central Auditing Organization, which should oversee all of these departments, only had access to 10 percent of it, said Ibrahim Yosry, an official from the organization and a founding member of Auditors Against Corruption. “The last real report accounting for the institution of the presidency was in 1987,” Yosry said.