Egyptian parliament again postpones vote on military authorization to support Saudi Arabia

The Egyptian House of Representatives postponed for the second time on Monday the decision on a request to authorize the armed forces to take defensive measures to support Saudi Arabia and protect its security if Riyadh requests it. The council decided to resume discussions on October 26, as Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia continue and military confrontations in Yemen expand. Egyptian reports and state media reported that the council speaker, Hisham Badawi, adjourned the session dedicated to discussing the authorization, with deliberations to resume next week, after the parliament had postponed on Sunday its first emergency sessions called by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to discuss providing military support to Saudi Arabia. The postponement means that parliament has not yet approved the required authorization, which relates to the possibility of sending Egyptian forces on a defensive mission outside the country, if Saudi Arabia requests it. According to Article 152 of the Egyptian constitution, the president may not declare war or send armed forces on a combat mission outside the state's borders except after consulting the National Defense Council and obtaining the approval of two-thirds of the members of the House of Representatives. Article 130 of the parliament's internal regulations confirms that approval of these measures requires an urgent secret session, based on a request from the president, after consulting the National Defense Council.