The constitutional counter-terrorism alternative proposed in accordance with the message addressed by President Hosni Mubarak to Parliament is to replace the entire single-article CHAPTER VI entitled "The Socialist Public Prosecutor" with another seeking to protect society from terrorism.

The general trend now is to streamline the President's right to declaring a state of emergency as stipulated in Article 148 of the 1971 Constitution. What we need is to revert to the relevant articles in the 1953 Constitution, in which no article whereby a an enduring state of emergency would be declared. The President of the Republic may, in case of war or of grave danger affecting national security, request Parliament to delegate certain powers to the government on a temporary basis. A parliamentary committee, representing political groups, should be formed, which would be consulted on exercising such powers which are subject to Judiciary supervision.

By Salah Eissa
Al-Ahram
6/1/2007