Morsi and judiciary in Parliament tug-of-war

Egypt’s top court yesterday rejected a decree by President Mohamed Morsi to reinstate the Parliament it ruled invalid, setting him on a collision course with the judiciary and the military that enforced the ruling.

“All the rulings and decisions of the Supreme Constitutional Court are final and not subject to appeal... and are binding for all state institutions,” the court said in a statement.

This came after Mr Morsi decided to order back the Islamist-led lower house of Parliament a month after the court found certain articles in the law on parliamentary elections to be invalid, annulling the house.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s military yesterday said the Constitution and the law must be upheld concerning the dissolution of Parliament, raising tension after President Mohamed Morsi decided to reinstate the assembly.

The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf), which ruled Egypt until Mr Morsi’s election last month, underlined the “importance of the Constitution in light of the latest developments,” the official Mena news agency reported.

Only hours after the top court rejected a decree by Mr Morsi to reinstate the Parliament it had ruled invalid – a ruling enforced by the Scaf – the military said it was “confident that all state institutions will respect constitutional declarations.”

The court’s move could spark a confrontation between Mr Morsi, who stepped down from the Muslim Brotherhood when he was sworn in last month, and the Scaf as well as the judiciary.

But the presidency insisted the decree “neither contradicts nor contravenes the ruling by the constitutional court”.

The ruling does not need to be implemented immediately according to precedent, said presidential spokesman Yasser Ali, arguing that Mr Morsi’s decision “takes into account the higher interest of the state and the people”.

Mr Morsi’s decree also stipulates the organisation of new parliamentary elections two months after the approval by referendum of Egypt’s new Constitution and the adoption of a new law regulating parliament.

The confrontation prompted the United States to urge Egypt to respect “democratic principles”.