The return of legislative power to the ruling military council after the Constitutional Court’s decision to dissolve parliament is a limited authority, restrained by the approval of Egypt's president and the decrees he issues, General Mamdouh Shahin, member of the ruling military council, said.

On the sidelines of yesterday's constituent assembly session, Shahin told Aswat Masriya that the Constitutional Declaration gives the president the authority to approve or disapprove laws and thus he can strike down laws issued by the ruling military council.

"We wanted to reclaim legislative power to create a political balance between the different authorities and not have all authorities, legislative and executive, in the hands of the president - particularly, in the absence of a parliament", Shahin said, adding that the new People's Assembly will gain complete legislative power as soon as it is  elected.

Shahin claimed he had wished that by June 30, legislative power would be in the hands of an elected parliament and executive power in the hands of an elected president in order for the army to return to its original duty; securing borders.

Shahin concluded that conditions forced the ruling generals to reclaim legislative power until a new assembly is elected to replace the dissolve Islamist-led parliament.