Newly appointed president of Egypt's Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) Judge Boulos Fahmy Eskandar, was sworn in before President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Wednesday, 9 February 2022. (photo courtesy of the Egyptian Presidency)
Eskandar is the first Copt to preside over the country's highest judicial body.
El-Sisi expressed his "deep appreciation" for the "major role" played by the SCC, which he said is a main pillar of the "lofty Egyptian judiciary", a statement by Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady read.
On Tuesday, El-Sisi issued a decree appointing Eskandar, 65, as the new SCC president, succeeding Said Maree Mohamed Gad, who was sent to retirement under a presidential decree reportedly over health issues.
Eskandar, who will start his four-year-tenure as of today, served as the vice president of the SCC in 2010 and then as president of the Cairo Appeal Court until he was reappointed as the vice president of the SCC in 2014.
Egypt's president has the authority to choose the head of the SCC from the five longest-serving deputy chairs for a one-time term of four years, which ends if the age of retirement, 70, is reached.
The SCC is the country’s autonomous and independent judicial authority in charge of ensuring that the domestic laws and regulations are in line with the constitution.
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