CAIRO: After the controversy that aroused his supra-constitutional principles document, Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister Ali el-Selmy announced he will conduct amendments to the articles no. 9 and 10 of the document. No. 9 provides only Egypt's ruling military council is authorized to consider the armed forces' affairs and the budget will be listed as budget no. 1 of the public budget. Only the military council can authorize legislation concerning the armed forces, according to the document. It also stipulates Egypt's president is the Commander-in Chief of the Armed Forces, while the Minister of Defense is the General Commander of the Armed Forces. It would grant the president the power to declare war, upon approval from the Supreme Council and the People's Assembly. El-Selmy added a new paragraph will be added to item no. 9 as any legislation concerning the Armed Forces will be referred to the military council, he said during a press conference on Thursday November 3. Another paragraph will be added to no. 10, stipulating a national defense council to be formed and chaired by the future Egyptian President to consider the state's affairs of securing Egypt. The law would determine the relevant duties, such as defending its land as a sacred duty. The council would be concerned with compulsory recruitment in accordance with the public mobilization in law. Additional paragraphs provide the Armed Forces' detailed budget would be considered. Regarding the institutional society, it shall consist of 80 non-parliamentary members representing all Egyptian brackets including political, professional, religious powers and syndicate powers as well. Those elected members will have the same eligibility for membership of the People's Assembly. The society shall consist of 12 judiciary members rather than 15; three members form Al-Azhar and another three members from the Church. As for the paragraph nominating 10 members in the society for drafting the constitution by the Egyptian cabinet is omitted. Moreover, a member from the tourism chamber and member from the Egyptian Writers' Union will join the society as well. The women share increased to 10 members.
