Amidst expectations of a showdown, Tantawi joins Morsi for army graduation ceremony

Ahram Online, Monday 9 Jul 2012

SCAF head Tantawi and President Morsi appeared on good terms at Monday's cadet ceremony despite Sunday's presidential decree revoking SCAF's decision to dissolve parliament

new President Mohammed Morsi
File photo: In this image released by the Egyptian President, Caretaker Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri, left, Egyptian Field Marshal Gen. Hussein Tantawi, second left, and new President Mohammed Morsi, third left (Photo: AP)

 

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi welcomed President Mohamed Morsi during the 41th armed forces graduation ceremony on Monday, just one day after the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) had a closed emergency meeting about the president's controversial Sunday decree reinstating the dissolved parliament.

President Morsi issued a presidential decree Sunday afternoon apparently revoking the SCAF's decision to dissolve the People's Assembly following the 14 June Constitutional Court ruling that parliamentary elections law was unconstitutional.

Many observers saw Morsi's move as the first significant confrontation in an impending showdown between the SCAF and the new president. Parliamentary speaker Saad El-Katatni declared Monday that the legislative authority will convene at 12pm Tuesday.

Every year the president, the head of the military council and key political figures are present at the event celebrating the graduation of army cadets. On Monday Chief of Staff Sami Anan, Grand Sheikh of Azhar Ahmed El-Tayeb, Prime Minister Kamal El-Ganzouri, Shura Council speaker Ahmed Fathy and Coptic Church representative Bishop Bakhomious also attended. 

 

 

 

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