
Mohamed ElBaradei is seen at his office after announcing his plans to end his presidential bid in Cairo, Egypt, Saturday, Jan. 14, 2012. (AP /Ahmed Gomaa)
Former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed ElBaradei, tweeted Saturday his dismay over Egypt's current roadmap towards a civilian government.
ElBaradei wrote from his official Twitter account: "Election of a president before constitution defining political system is a travesty. Always going against the tide & always paying for it."
When roadmaps for a transition of power from military to civilian rule were being proposed and voted on, ElBaradei championed drafting a new constitution first, to then be followed by elections. This was rejected through a national referendum, which dictated that Parliament elections take place first.
After parliamentary elections, ElBaradei again pressed for drafting a constitution first before elections for president begin. ElBaradei insists that the president's powers need to be set first via a constitution.
Officials have, however, declared that the constitution will be drafted in parallel to presidential elections; implying that the constitution will still be in the making by the time a president is in office.
ElBaradei had previously laid out his roadmap, which would have had the parliament elect a temporary president to take over power from Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) until a constitution is drafted.
ElBaradei had withdrawn from the presidential race criticising the roadmap set by the ruling military junta.
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