The Democratic Alliance for Egypt, which includes 11 parties led by the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, rejected amendments introduced to Deputy Prime Minister Ali al-Selmy's Constitutional Principles documents. The alliance threatened to organize a million-man protest on Friday, 18 November if the document is approved. Last Tuesday, Selmy met with leaders of several political groups and public figures to discuss the 22-clause document, which includes principles that will determine the identity of the state and established fundamental liberties. Selmy amended Article 9 of the document which states that parliament does not have the power to approve the Armed Forces' budget. He also amended Article 10, which tackles the criteria for choosing the constituent assembly that will write Egypt's new constitution. Under the amendments, the National Defense Council, which brings together army leaders and speakers of parliaments' upper and lower houses, will be able to discuss the Armed Forces' budget. Article 10 was amended to allow legal experts and other syndicate leaderships from outside parliament to participate in drafting the new constitution. Meanwhile, Saad al-Husseiny, a member of the executive bureau of the Freedom and Justice party, said his party rejects the document altogether. “The party won't allow such a document to be issued,” he said. Assem Abdel Maged, the head of the media office for Jama'a al-Islamiya, called for the removal of Selmy, and said issuing the document would constitute an unforgivable crime. In a statement issued on Friday, the group further called on the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to invalidate the document, which the group has described as “dubious.” Adel Afify, the head of Salafi Asala Party, described the document as a “bad omen” and a danger that must be overcome using all means. He called on Selmy to leave the task of writing the constitution to parliament. In statements to Al-Masry Al-Youm, Selmy said he intends to invite all political powers to discuss the document after the Eid vacation. He said every party is invited to defend its position, but will ultimately need to submit to the will of the majority.
