Egypt's ruling military council is legally entitled to amend the current Interim Constitution, Deputy Prime Minister Yehia al-Gamal said Tuesday. The SCAF had created the Interim Constitution based on the legitimacy it acquired from the people and the revolution, Gamal said in an interview with Al-Masry Al-Youm. In March, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) issued the Interim Constitution to run Egypt during its transitional period. The constitution involves holding parliamentary elections in September. Once taking office, the new parliament will be tasked with drafting a permanent constitution. But some liberal and secularist groups want to postpone elections and elect a panel that would create a permanent constitution in advance. Gamal said the Interim Constitution would permit the council to yield to public demands to draft the permanent constitution first. However, he said the council remains committed to holding parliamentary elections before drafting the permanent constitution. He suggested maintaining the Interim Constitution while reaching consensus of political parties on a set of guidelines for the panel to draft the permanent constitution. These guidelines could include a commitment to maintaining a civil state and avoiding the model of religious states that prevailed in Europe during the Middle Ages, Gamal said. He said he believes that the structure of the state changed after the 25 January revolution, and noted that the SCAF now represents the legislative and presidential authorities, while the cabinet acts as a part of prime ministerial authority. "We brought down an old system but have not established a new one yet, and to do so, we should abolish private agendas and unite to get over the impasse," he said. "I would not claim that we induced a totally new system at ministries and state agencies or that we got rid of bureaucratic hurdles facing investments." Commenting on Egypt's presidential candidates, Gamal said that each has positive and negative aspects. Mohamed ElBaradei is one of the figures most loyal to Egypt, though some believe he lacks the necessary charisma and eloquence, he said. Gamal described another potential candidate, Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, as the most moderate among Islamist nominees. He said former Arab League Chief Amr Moussa has charisma but is often attacked for being affiliated with former President Hosni Mubarak. There is a strong possibility that the next president will be an unfamiliar figure not currently present in the political arena, Gamal said. Translated from the Arabic Edition
