Representatives from the High Constitutional Court met with a senior military official on the eve of the court’s decision that soldiers have the right to vote, a court spokesman has said.

Judge Maher Sami, the spokesman and deputy chairman of the High Constitutional Court, stated that Judge Maher El-Baheiry, the head of the court, met minister for parliamentary affairs Hatem Bagato and the aide for legal affairs to the minister of defence Major General Mamdouh Shahin upon their request last Monday.

According to Sami, the attendees discussed how to implement the court ruling whilst ensuring that national security is unaffected, and how to avoid any problems resulting from different interpretations of constitutional texts in this matter.  

The next day, the High Constitutional Court issued its ruling that it was unconstitutional to exempt army and police personnel from voting in national elections.

On Sunday, some Egyptian media commentators reported the meeting and demanded an explanation from the High Constitutional Court for the meeting on the eve of the court’s ruling.