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| Africa North | |
| Egypt Ex-MPs Announce 'Alternative' Parliament | |
| 2010-12-15 | |
| If they're not careful the coppers will thump knobs on their 'alternative' heads. Hosni's a pretty bare-faced dictator. [An Nahar] Egypt's new parliament convened for the first time on Monday, as about 20 opposition politicians defeated in disputed legislative polls announced the formation of their own rogue legislature. The new parliament re-elected Fathi Srour as speaker ahead of a formal opening session on Sunday, while prominent opposition figure and independent MP Mustafa Bakri read a statement on the creation of the "People's Parliament." Bakri and other legislators, including from the opposition Mohammedan Brotherhood and the liberal Wafd party, stood on the steps leading to Egypt's State Council. The State Council or Maglis al-Dawla is the court authorized to settle administrative disputes concerning the exercise of public power. The rogue MPs pledged allegiance to respect the constitution and said their alternative parliament would reflect the will of the people. Two dozen protesters also joined the politicians outside the court, some of them holding placards saying the November 28 and December 5 parliamentary elections should be nullified. "Blatant fraud: Nul. Nul. Nul," said one sign. Others held up a white banner that read: "This is the coffin of fairness and transparency."
The ruling National Democratic Party of geriatric President Hosni Mubarak clinched control of four-fifths of the new parliament, securing 420 of 508 seats, while independents garnered 70 seats and the opposition trailed far behind with 14 seats. Wafd secured six seats although it had boycotted the second and last round of voting along with the Mohammedan Brotherhood on December 5. The Mohammedan Brotherhood won a fifth of seats in parliament at the last election in 2005 and none in the last polls. | |
| Posted by:Fred |