Abul-Fotouh warns against removal of military neutrality from Egypt constitution

Ahram Online , Monday 9 Sep 2013

Leader of Strong Egypt Party and former presidential candidate says constitution must keep statements on 2011 revolution and apolitical role of military

Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh
Former presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh (Photo: Mai Shaheen)

Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, the leader of the Strong Egypt Party, said that constitutional statements that enshrine the legitimacy of the 2011 revolution and the army's non-interference in politics should be preserved in the new draft of the constitution.

"The two articles about the legitimacy of the January revolution and the inadmissibility of military intervention in political affairs should not be removed from the new draft constitution, as this will create a great danger for Egypt's future," said the moderate Islamist political leader on his official Twitter account on Sunday.

The preamble to the 2012 constitution, which is currently suspended while a committee drafts amendments, includes the sentence "this is our constitution, the document of the revolution of 25 January 2011, which our youth began, around which our people gathered, and with which our armed forces sided."

The preamble also mentions that: "Defending the homeland is an honour and an obligation. Our armed forces are a neutral, professional national institution that does not interfere in the political process. It is the country’s defensive shield."

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