Egypt: NGOs Propose a Constitutional Council

Twenty-seven Egyptian human rights organizations proposed the establishment of a Constitutional Council on Saturday, in an effort to protect Egypt’s transition to a democratic country.  The NGOs organized a six-article document entitled the “Basic Constitutional Provisions” that said, “a Constitutional Council shall be established to oversee the protection of the constitution and the democratic system.” In addition, the council would include chairs of the high courts led by the president of the Supreme Judicial Council and it did not specify whether Egypt’s ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces would have a special role in protecting the secular nature of the state.

The Supreme Council of Armed Forces Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi named the former editor in chief, Osama Heikal, of the Wafd party’s newspaper as the new minister of information on Saturday.    Heikal’s appointment surprised many politicians and activists who believed that the ministry would continue to keep that position vacant.  Other activists and bloggers drew attention to “Heikal’s support” to the former Mubarak regime due to an article he had written a day before the Jan. 25 revolt that ended with the downfall of former President Hosni Mubarak.