"Draft a new constitution before elections", say participants at Egypt's National Constitutional Conference

<p>Participants to Egypt's National Dialogue Conference have called for a new constitution to be drafted by a constituent assembly before parliamentary and presidential elections are held, (<a title="Participants at National Dialogue Conference call for constitution before elections" href="Participants%20to%20the%20National%20Dialogue%20Conference%20have%20called%20for%20Egypt%20to%20draft%20a%20new%20constitution,%20through%20a%20constituent%20assembly%20before%20organizing%20parliamentary%20and%20presidential%20elections%20%28Daily%20News%20Egypt%29.%20Opening%20the%20conference,%20which%20took%20place%20over%20the%20weekend%20in%20Cairo,%20Interim%20Prime%20Minister%20Essam%20Sharaf%20spoke%20of%20a%20%E2%80%9Cbright%E2%80%9D%20future%20[for%20Egypt]%20and%20promised%20that%20the%20role%20of%20the%20government%20will%20be%20to%20facilitate%20the%20process%20%28Ahramonline%29.%20Participants%20to%20the%20conference%20were%20representatives%20from%20various%20political%20streams,%20professional%20syndicates%20and%20civil%20society%20organizations,%20although%20the%20Muslim%20Brotherhood%20%28MB%29%20and%20representatives%20of%20other%20religious%20streams%20chose%20to%20boycott%20the%20event.%20The%20question%20on%20whether%20or%20not%20to%20hold%20elections%20before%20drafting%20a%20new%20constitution%20is%20becoming%20a%20major%20issue%20as%20Egypt%20struggles%20to%20carve%20a%20new%20political%20future,%20following%20the%20revolutions%20that%20brought%20down%20the%20Mubarak%20regime%20in%20February%20this%20year.%20Parliamentary%20elections%20are%20scheduled%20for%20September%20this%20year%20to%20be%20followed%20by%20presidential%20polls%20around%20October%20or%20November.%20The%20Muslim%20Brotherhood%20has%20indicated%20its%20preference%20for%20elections%20to%20be%20held%20before%20a%20new%20constitution%20is%20drafted,%20while%20leading%20opposition%20figures%20and%20presidential%20hopefuls,%20Mohammed%20Elbaradei%20and%20Amr%20Moussa,%20who%20oppose%20this%20position,%20are%20increasing%20their%20calls%20for%20a%20new%20constitution%20before%20elections.">Daily News Egypt)</a>. Opening the conference, which took place over the weekend in Cairo, Interim Prime Minister Essam Sharaf spoke of a “bright” future [for Egypt] and promised that the role of the government will be to facilitate the process (<a title="Egypt PM speaks of Egypt’s ‘bright’ future at first constitutional convention " href="http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/12595/Egypt/Politics-/Egypt-PM-speaks-of-Egypt%E2%80%99s-%E2%80%98bright%E2%80%99-future-at-firs.aspx">Ahramonline</a>). Participants to the conference were representatives from various political streams, professional syndicates and civil society organizations, although the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and representatives of other religious streams chose to boycott the event. The question on whether or not to hold elections before drafting a new constitution is becoming a major issue as Egypt struggles to carve a new political future, following the revolutions that brought down the Mubarak regime in February this year. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for September this year, to be followed by presidential polls around October or November. The Muslim Brotherhood has indicated its preference for elections to be held before a new constitution is drafted, while leading opposition figures and presidential hopefuls, Mohammed Elbaradei and Amr Moussa, who oppose this position, are increasing their calls for a new constitution before elections.</p><p>
Read the full article here: