Egypt MPs resign in support of the opposition

Several incumbents, pro-secularism, resigned Saturday, June 29 the Egyptian Advisory Council (Shura) to show their support for opponents of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi on the eve of a planned massive demonstration calling for his departure. 

At least eight MPs have officially resigned and many others presented their resignation has not been accepted, said in a statement Ahmed Fahmy, the spokesman of the Shura Council, the upper house of parliament dominated by Islamists .

Shura plays a secondary role usual but since the dissolution of the lower house of Parliament in June 2012, it has all the legislative power in Egypt until new elections. 

Read: The threatened democracy 

EGYPT SPLIT FACE MORSI 

The resignations came as Egypt is deeply divided between supporters of the president for whom he purifies corrupt institutions, and critics who accuse him of concentrating power in the hands of Islamists. "We gave them a chance of reconciliation, but they did not before," said Mona Makram Ebeid, one resigned. 

Read the editorial of the World: Egypt, triple failure of the Muslim Brotherhood 

Ihab Al-Kharrat, head of the Committee for Human Rights in the Shura Council, said at least 22 members had submitted their resignations. "We resigning in support of the 22 million Egyptians who do not put their trust in Morsi," he said. 

This figure refers to the number of signatures that Tamarrod campaign (rebellion in Arabic) claims to have gathered Saturday on a petition demanding the president's resignation and the holding of early presidential elections. 

Read Tamarrod 15 million signatures against Egyptian President 

With a population of over 80 million Egyptians, this figure is higher than that of voters who voted for Mr. Morsi - 13.23 million, or 51.7% of the vote, the second round of the presidential election in June 2012. 

However, supporters of Mr. Morsi argue that the petition has no constitutional value, and only elections can decide whether or departure of a head of state. Morsi recently said he planned to stay until the end of his term in June 2016.