Feb. 13: Egypt’s new military regime dismantled ousted strongman Hosni Mubarak’s former regime on Sunday, dissolving parliament, suspending the constitution and promising a referendum on political reform.
While the civilian cabinet met for the first time since Mubarak’s downfall, the generals made it clear where authority now lies, issuing a proclamation setting a six-month timetable to prepare democratic elections.
The latest moves spelled the end of the political system that underpinned Mubarak’s 30-year rule which ended on Friday.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces’ “communique number five” said it would “run the affairs of the country on a temporary basis for six months or until the end of parliamentary and presidential elections.”
The communique said the military would form a panel to rewrite the constitution, which effectively locked down power for Mubarak’s National Democratic Party (NDP), and submit it to a referendum. The dissolved legislative body was seen as illegitimate following elections last year.