The Al-Nour Party intends to participate in the 50-member assembly responsible for finalising the amended draft constitution, "despite Al-Nour Party's reservations about amending the constitution," said the party on Sunday evening. The influential Salafi party noted that the draft put forth by the Committee of Experts was not a final draft and that the subsequent assembly consisting of 50 members would have "final word" on proposed amendments. "Al-Nour Party decided to participate in the committee of 50, to partake with political forces seeking to preserve the gains of the 25 January Revolution," said the party. The Islamist party also said it would seek to defend the materials that "represent a true reflection of the identity of the Egyptian people," and correct the articles that "highlight the nation's identity." Al-Nour Party had previously expressed disapproval the plan for a 50-member constituent assembly to amend the constitution, and its format which only allots five seats to political parties, and the party had previously said it would not participate in the process. The party had also criticised the lack of transparency of the 10-member legal expert committee that submitted its amended draft to interim President Adly Mansour this week. The committee removed Articles 4 and 219 of the 2012 constitution, two controversial articles expanding of the influence of Islamic law detailed in Article 2. Al-Nour Party had also previously rejected the idea of permanently suspending the constitution and drafting a new one, saying it was open to negotiating all areas of the constitution with an exception of the first article, which explains the country's "identity". Chairman of Al-Nour Party Younis Makhyoun said his party will take part in a Wednesday meeting with media adviser to the presidency Ahmed El-Moslimany to offer ideas to overcome the current political crisis, adding that genuine reconciliation was needed, according to state-owned Al-Ahram. El-Moslimany said he intended to meet various parties and political leaders over the coming period ahead of the assembly's finalising of the amended constitution draft.
