Egyptians Vote to Dissolve Parliament 2 Years Early

Egyptians voting in a national referendum overwhelmingly favored dissolution of Parliament, Assistant Interior Minister Ahmed Rasekh said Friday.

The state-run Middle East News Agency quoted Rasekh as saying preliminary results from Thursday’s voting indicate 85% favored dissolution.

President Hosni Mubarak ordered the referendum last week to quell opposition party criticism. Analysts say he sought to remove any doubts about Parliament’s legitimacy by allowing it to be dissolved two years before its term expires, then permitting new elections before the People’s Assembly is expected to nominate him for a second six-year term in October. His current term expires Oct. 13.

“It is certain now that President Mubarak will dissolve the People’s Assembly and that the Interior Ministry will begin immediately to prepare for new elections,” said Rasekh, who heads the ministry’s Elections Department. Final results are to be announced today.

Illegal Assembly

Opposition members charged the assembly is illegal because it was elected in May, 1984, under a law they say was unconstitutional at the time because it barred independent candidates.

Under the constitution, Mubarak would set a date for parliamentary elections to be held within 60 days. A new Parliament would begin proceedings in August to nominate a president.

Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party and all five legal opposition parties favored dissolving Parliament, which was elected under a 1983 law banning independents and allowing only parties winning at least 8% of the national vote to take seats. The law also reserved 31 seats for women.

Came Under Fire

The Parliament came under fire when a suit was filed with the Supreme State Constitutional Court that claimed Egypt’s election law discriminated against independents.

In anticipation of a ruling against the law, the government passed amendments in December that allow one independent to run in each of the 48 constituencies. It still requires parties to get at least 8% of the vote in order to take seats. Under the amendments, an independent must win 20% of the vote in his constituency to be elected.

Mubarak’s party held more than 80% of the seats and is expected to dominate the next Parliament. Its leaders have made known that the party will nominate Mubarak for a second term.