President Morsi to address nation shortly

A recorded speech of Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is to be televised Wednesday at 6pm to congratulate Egyptians on the new constitution and to touch on the country's future, reported Al-Ahram Arabic news website. The new constitution was upheld on Tuesday after the Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC) announced that around 64 per cent of voter turnout voted for the national charter, which came in effect after Morsi signed an executive order hours later. According to Al-Ahram Arabic news website, a source inside the presidential office said the speech would be recorded at the presidential palace hours before it is broadcasted. President Morsi also said he would keep open his invitation to the opposition, who continue to voice disgruntlement with the constitution, in an attempt to reach national consensus. The proposed dialogue, the source says, should result in a document that includes the disputed articles and suggests amendments that shall be handed to the People's Assembly to implement. Opposition groups have argued that the constitution lacks national consensus, describing the charter as "unrepresentative." Drafted by an Islamist-led Constituent Assembly that saw walkouts by church representatives, liberals, leftists and others, the constitution was upheld on late Wednesday after a referendum that saw nearly 32 per cent of voter turnout. The People's Assembly, the parliament's lower chamber that holds legislative authorities, will be elected next year, which was previously dismantled in June after the High Constitutional Court declared the law regulating last winter's parliamentary elections unconstitutional. The Shura Council (upper house), which was protected from dissolution by a controversial presidential decree last month, will have the legislative authority until a new People's Assembly (lower house of parliament) is elected within two months after 64 per cent of Egyptians approved the new constitution, according to unofficial results. In his speech, President Morsi will confirm the automatic annulment of all constitutional decrees that have been issued since the 25 January revolution as the new constitution came into effect. Morsi is scheduled to deliver another speech at the Shura Council on Saturday, 29 December. From: Ahram Online