Egypt politician starts to undress in parliament protest
Member of Parliament Mohamed Hussein undresses in protest of proposed constitutional amendments giving president vast powers
In a debate on the amendments, details of which have not been released, Member of Parliament Mohamed Hussein objected to the article which gives the president the right to dissolve parliament.
“Enough of that, enough. Should I take my clothes off?” He added, using a sarcastic popular expression used in response to someone’s excessive expectations.
When Hussein unbuttoned the waistcoat of his suit, speaker Fathi Sorour threatened to have him thrown out of the chamber.
”Listen up, my man. I’ll ask the house to throw you out of the session. You’re a troublemaker,” Sorour said.
Controversial aspects
Colleagues persuaded Hussein to withdraw from the chamber voluntarily.
The members of parliament were debating the amendments but an opposition politician complained that a committee report on them added nothing to a letter President Hosni Mubarak sent to parliament last month.
Mubarak’s letter set very general guidelines but did not propose specific wording on any of the controversial aspects, such as the conditions for fielding presidential candidates, judicial supervision of elections, or a proposed constitutional ban on parties based on religion.
Mubarak’s ruling party, the National Democratic Party, has more than the two-thirds majority it needs to push through whatever constitutional changes it chooses.
