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Power struggle in Cairo

THERE IS a crisis of confidence in Cairo. The wrangling between the judiciary and the executive might plunge the strife-torn country into a renewed phase of power struggle.

Often, it is so mindboggling to interpret as to what each organ of the state means when it comes down with its own diagnosis to overcome the vacuum at work. The military junta that has ruled Egypt de facto since president Hosni Mubarak was overthrown seems to be in a straight-jacket module while asserting its influence. Two of its orders, namely: getting the newly elected parliament dissolved through a constitutional court order and an attempt to curb the presidential powers will go a long way in reshaping the new Egypt’s political dictum. But the point is that the buck hasn’t stopped at the door of the garrison, as President Mohammad Mursi is fighting back to restore, at least, a glimpse of attraction in his high office by negotiating powers back from the powerful army. At this point of time, the presidency at best is described as a signatory office, with the head-and-heart to decide lying with the generals. This is what that has to change, and the recent ruling of an administrative court that it could not interpret or stay the Constitutional Court’s orders is a case in point.

Mursi, who to this day has played to the gallery by taking an oath in public for his office and promising to limit the powers of the army, has a long way to go. Now many keep their fingers crossed over his strategy, especially after his U-turn decision to accept the court’s short order of refusing to restore the suspended parliament. As a matter of political currency Mursi had through an executive order summoned the parliament to meet. With none sure of what is going behind the curtains in the corridors of power, the crisis is there to stay. But surprisingly enough, and to the fortune of the civil society, Egypt in the form of Tahrir Square has a valve that is more than enough to unnerve the power icons, as hundreds and thousands of teeming citizens keep on returning to remind the generals and the politicians that revolution is yet to come full circle. This is the hope-line that keeps power-brokers on the edges. Nonetheless, what bothers many is the fact that legislature is yet to convene and get down to the business of drafting a new constitution. Till that is done all decisions will rest in a state of limbo.