Introduction to the evening news 14-06-2012

Where is Egypt heading for?   
 
Two days ahead of the presidential elections, scheduled for next Saturday and Sunday, a new development reshuffled the cards in Egypt and brought the conflict between the military council and Muslim Brotherhood back to the forefront.      

The constitutional court decided to dissolve the lower house of parliament which means that the legislative authority is once again in the hands of the military council.     

The decision drew two key reactions: First, that of the Muslim Brotherhood that said the rulings amounted to a "full-fledged coup” and threw away the 16 most decent months of Egypt’s history.       

Second, candidate Ahmad Shafiq said “this historic ruling sends the message that the era of score-settling and tailor-made law is over."      

On the Lebanese scene, the cabinet received an “injection” of the U.S. support through Hillary Clinton’s phone call to PM Najib Mikati.     

Turning to ministerial affairs, the state budget will be discussed during the cabinet session scheduled for June 27.  

As for the Pope’s visit to Lebanon, Vatican’s spokesman confirmed that the preparations are ongoing, dissipating doubts that the visit might be called off due to the events in Syria. He added, however, that “the future is beyond our control.”