---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We have no functioning parliament in…"
description: "\"We have no functioning parliament in Egypt and months ago Mohammed Morsi assumed legislative functions. Now he's decided that there should be no opposi..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_age_we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egy_1373474.png"
---

#  We have no functioning parliament in Egypt and months ago…

![“We have no functioning parliament in Egypt and months ago Mohammed Morsi assumed legislative functions. Now he's decided that there should be no opposition to the laws that he makes and that he is authorized to pass any national security measure. It is difficult to be more absolutist than that…” quote by Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_age_we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egy_1373474.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_age_we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egy_1373474.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_age_we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egy_1373474.png)

> “We have no functioning parliament in Egypt and months ago Mohammed Morsi assumed legislative functions. Now he's decided that there should be no opposition to the laws that he makes and that he is authorized to pass any national security measure. It is difficult to be more absolutist than that. And the constitutional convention - what a sad gathering; it threatens to send us back to the darkest period of the Middle Ages.”

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker warns that Egypt’s political system has become authoritarian, with power concentrated in the president and a weak parliament, risking a regression to oppressive governance.

**In simple terms:** Egypt is becoming authoritarian under Morsi, weakening democracy.

Key Takeaway

Guard democratic institutions and oppose unchecked power.

Themes

authoritarianism democracy political decay human rights

Mood

concerned urgent critical

Type

political warning analysis

When to use this quote

- political protests
- civil society activism
- international diplomatic pressure

Key Concepts

separation of powers constitutionalism rule of law

Questions to Reflect On

- How can citizens effectively restore parliamentary authority?
- What role should the international community play?

A Different Perspective

The analysis may overlook internal support for the president’s reforms.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Constitutional convention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutional-convention/) [Difficult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/difficult/) [Functioning Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/functioning-parliament-4735418/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) [Morsi Assumed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morsi-assumed-4735416/) [National security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/national-security/) [Opposition Laws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opposition-laws-4264319/) [Parliament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament/) [Parliament Egypt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parliament-egypt-4735417/) [Security](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/security/)

## Related quotes

> [It is not only vain, but wicked, in a legislator to frame laws in opposition to the laws of nature, and to arm them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-not-only-vain-but-wicked-in-a-legislator-to-frame-laws-in/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [A lady asked Dr. Franklin Well Doctor what have we got a republic or a monarchy - "A republic," replied the Doctor, "if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/a-lady-asked-dr-franklin-well-doctor-what-have-we-got-a-republic-or-a/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [The deliberate union of so great and various a people in such a place, is without all partiality or prejudice, if not the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-adams/the-deliberate-union-of-so-great-and-various-a-people-in-such-a-place/)

[John Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-adams/)

> [“The delegates to the Constitutional Convention were adamant that impeachment not reach to errors of judgment, or what Edmund Randolph described as “a willful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-mccarthy/the-delegates-to-the-constitutional-convention-were-adamant-that/)

[Andrew McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-mccarthy/)

> [I consider the difference between a system founded on the legislatures only, and one founded on the people, to be the true difference between…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/i-consider-the-difference-between-a-system-founded-on-the/)

[James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/)

> [“ Alexander Hamilton Junior High School -- SEMESTER REPORT -- STUDENT: Joseph Margolis TEACHER: Janet Hicks ENGLISH: A, ARITHMETIC: A, SOCIAL STUDIES: A, SCIENCE:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kluger/alexander-hamilton-junior-high-school-semester-report-student-joseph/)

[Steve Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-kluger/)

> [“By their actions, the Founding Fathers made clear that their primary concern was religious freedom, not the advancement of a state religion. Individuals, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franklin-t-lambert/by-their-actions-the-founding-fathers-made-clear-that-their-primary/)

[Franklin T. Lambert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franklin-t-lambert/)

> [I therefore beg leave to move that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessing on our deliberations, be held in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-therefore-beg-leave-to-move-that-henceforth-prayers-imploring-the/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [I firmly believe this ... that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the builders of Babel:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/i-firmly-believe-this-that-without-his-concurring-aid-we-shall/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [I am exceedingly distressed at the proceedings of the Convention-being ... almost sure, they will ... lay the foundation of a Civil War.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbridge-gerry/i-am-exceedingly-distressed-at-the-proceedings-of-the-convention/)

[Elbridge Gerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbridge-gerry/)

> [Outside Independence Hall when the Constitutional Convention of 1787 ended](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/outside-independence-hall-when-the-constitutional-convention-of-1787/)

[Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/)

> [“Treason the only crime defined in the Constitution. Tyranny as under the Stuart and Tudor kings characterized by the elimination of political dissent under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-l-doctorow-2/treason-the-only-crime-defined-in-the-constitution-tyranny-as-under/)

[E.L. Doctorow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-l-doctorow-2/)

> [No morn ever dawned more favorable than ours did; and no day was every more clouded than the present! Wisdom, and good examples are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/no-morn-ever-dawned-more-favorable-than-ours-did-and-no-day-was-every/)

[George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/)

> [“In framing that great document which Gladstone declared ‘the most wonderful work ever struck off at a given time by the brain and purpose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/in-framing-that-great-document-which-gladstone-declared-the-most/)

[Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/)

> [ \[James\] Madison pointed out in the discussion of the constitutional debates - the constitutional convention - that democracy would be a danger. He used… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/james-madison-pointed-out-in-the-discussion-of-the-constitutional/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

## More by Mohamed ElBaradei

> [My sister-in-law works for a group that supports orphanages in Cairo. She and her colleagues take care of children left behind by circumstances beyond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/my-sister-in-law-works-for-a-group-that-supports-orphanages-in-cairo/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [Its up to any government to decide how to react to the denial of basic human rights anywhere in the world, including Egypt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/its-up-to-any-government-to-decide-how-to-react-to-the-denial-of/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [If The World Does Not Change Course, We Risk Self-Destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-the-world-does-not-change-course-we-risk-self-destruction/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [If Egypt were going to change, it is going to change through the young people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/if-egypt-were-going-to-change-it-is-going-to-change-through-the-young/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [Egypt is indeed deeply divided. Without reconciliation we have no future. The Muslim Brotherhood is an important part of our society. I very much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/egypt-is-indeed-deeply-divided-without-reconciliation-we-have-no/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [You either have a civil society or you dont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/you-either-have-a-civil-society-or-you-dont/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [I lose my temper at home. I try to control my temper at work. Sometimes, if you are under a lot of pressure, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/i-lose-my-temper-at-home-i-try-to-control-my-temper-at-work-sometimes/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [Psychology is as important as substance. If you treat people with respect, they will go out of their way to accommodate you. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/psychology-is-as-important-as-substance-if-you-treat-people-with/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [In April I founded the Constitution Party. With the Social Democrats and all liberal powers we will combine against the Islamists. We still have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/in-april-i-founded-the-constitution-party-with-the-social-democrats/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [As long as some of us choose to rely on nuclear weapons, we continue to risk that these same weapons will become increasingly attractive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/as-long-as-some-of-us-choose-to-rely-on-nuclear-weapons-we-continue/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [The gravest threat faced by the world is of an extremist group getting hold of nuclear weapons or materials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/the-gravest-threat-faced-by-the-world-is-of-an-extremist-group/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [People talk about smart sanctions and crippling sanctions. I've never seen smart sanctions, and crippling sanctions cripple everyone, including innocent civilians, and make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/people-talk-about-smart-sanctions-and-crippling-sanctions-i-ve-never/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [The Muslim Brotherhood is a religiously conservative group. They are a minority in Egypt. They are not a majority of the Egyptian people, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/the-muslim-brotherhood-is-a-religiously-conservative-group-they-are-a/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [I think one country with nuclear weapons is one country too many.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/i-think-one-country-with-nuclear-weapons-is-one-country-too-many/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

> [Youre shooting yourself in the foot if you isolate or disempower the moderates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/youre-shooting-yourself-in-the-foot-if-you-isolate-or-disempower-the/)

[Mohamed ElBaradei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

[Explore all 137 Mohamed ElBaradei quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/)

## More Age quotes

> [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/)

[Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/)

> [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/)

[Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/)

> [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/)

[Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/)

> [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/)

[Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/)

> [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/)

[Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/)

> [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/)

[Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/)

> [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/)

[Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/)

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/)

[Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/)

> [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/)

[Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/)

> [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/)

[Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/)

[Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/)

> [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/)

[Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/)

[Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "We have no functioning parliament in Egypt and months ago Mohammed Morsi assumed legislative functions. Now he's decided that there should be no opposition to the laws that he makes and that he is authorized to pass any national security measure. It is difficult to be more absolutist than that. And the constitutional convention - what a sad gathering; it threatens to send us back to the darkest period of the Middle Ages.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Mohamed ElBaradei"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egypt-and-months-ago-mohammed/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Age"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egypt-and-months-ago-mohammed/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_age_we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egy_1373474.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_age_we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egy_1373474.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/481/mohamed-elbaradei-3135_age_we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egy_1373474.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“We have no functioning parliament in Egypt and months ago Mohammed Morsi assumed legislative functions. Now…” — Mohamed ElBaradei",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Mohamed ElBaradei",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohamed-elbaradei/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "We have no functioning parliament in...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egypt-and-months-ago-mohammed/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohamed-elbaradei/we-have-no-functioning-parliament-in-egypt-and-months-ago-mohammed/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
