Controversy raised in Egypt over date of parliamentary elections

CAIRO (Xinhua) - Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi's decision to hold the parliamentary elections despite the unfulfilled conciliation with the opposition forces triggered a controversy over whether the step would affect the political situation in Egypt "negatively" or "positively".

According to a presidential decree issued Saturday, the parliamentary elections is scheduled to begin on April 22.

Morsi's decision came days after the Constitutional Court rejected the parliamentary election law submitted by the Shura Council, deeming some of its articles "unconstitutional."

On Thursday, Egypt's Shura council (upper house of the parliament) endorsed amendments referred by the constitutional court over the parliamentary election law and sent the draft law to Morsi. The president ratified it Thursday night and called for elections.

Noha Bakr, a professor of political studies at the American University in Cairo, told Xinhua that "it wasn't a proper decision to give the time frame while some terms of parliamentary election law remain disputed," adding that "holding elections without taking the whole political forces' opinions into consideration will make the political situation more complicated."

"Holding the parliamentary elections before a national reconciliation is reached is an irresponsible act," Mohamed El- Baradei, head of al-Dostour Party, wrote on his twitter account.

Meanwhile, head of the Conference Party Amr Moussa said in a statement that "it would be better if the presidency held consultations with the political forces about the date of the parliamentary elections."

Political expert Tarek al-Senouty said the president's call for elections came "too early."

"It will inflame the conflicts between the National Salvation Front and the Islamic forces, and that between the presidency and the opposition forces, who accused the president of ignoring all their demands," said Senouty.

El-Baradei, who is also a leading figure of the National Salvation Front, on Saturday called upon the Egyptians to boycott the parliamentary elections, saying that "it is the fastest way to reveal the bogus democracy and assure our credibility."

While Bakr excluded any possibility that the presidency may change its mind over the election date, Senouty said the presidency would retreat if the entire political opposition agreed to boycott the elections to impose pressure on the presidency.