Presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said at a press conference on Saturday that it was too early to make a decision yet as to what will happen if the High Constitutional Court (HCC) issues a verdict against the constitutionality of the Constituent Assembly at its scheduled session on Sunday.

"We respect court verdicts, but the new constitutional declaration now renders the Constituent Assembly and the Shura Council immune," he stated.

The HCC will look into the case filed against the Constituent Assembly, the body which finalised the draft constitution on Friday.

The court had earlier issued a verdict against the constitutionality of the parliament's lower house, leading to its dissolution.

However, President Mohamed Morsi issued a constitutional declaration on 22 November making the Constituent Assembly and the Shura Council (the upper house of parliament) immune from court appeals, and also making his own decisions immune from legal challenge. 

Several courts have gone on strike protesting the declaration, saying that the president has infringed upon judicial authority and has placed himself above the law.

"We will cross that bridge when we get there," Ali responded to a question on what the president would do if  judges refuse to monitor a national referendum on the draft constitution as some have threatened.

Ali confirmed that President Mohamed Morsi's speech, planned to take place late on Saturday to the constitution-drafting body and several members of the Shura Council, will announce the plans regarding the current draft constitution, and the timing of the national referendum needed for it to be approved.