Egypt’s High Court Won’t Boycott Constitutional Vote

Despite Calls From Other Judicial Groups, Supreme Court Will Oversee Referendum

by Jason Ditz, December 03, 2012

The Egyptian Supreme Court isn’t going to return to meeting any time soon, having announced an indefinite closure yesterday in response to protests, but they aren’t going to get in the way of the upcoming referendum on the new Egyptian constitution.

The vote, to take place on December 15, would effectively end President Mohamed Morsi’s controversial edict, which claimed broad powers for himself until a constitution is in place, but Morsi’s growing dispute with the judiciary had many calling for escalation.

Instead the Supreme Court will do what it is supposed to do, and oversee the referendum. The “Judges’ Club” was said to oppose the move, having pressed the court to boycott the vote, leaving the validity of the constitution disputed more or less forever.

Anti-Morsi protesters oppose both his edict, making him effectively all-powerful, and the constitution, which limits his power, on the grounds that many of his allies are on the constitutional committee. It seems unlikely, however, that the protests are going to do much to prevent the vote.

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