Jonathan Rashad/ Creative Commons

Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president, on Friday assumed almost unlimited power and immunity from the judicial system. 

Morsi said in a speech in front of the presidential palace in Cairo that his new nearly limitless power is intended to uphold the revolution that brought down the previous president, Hosni Mubarak and that also consequently led to his election. 

“I don’t want to have all the powers,” said Morsi in his speech on Friday. “But if I see my nation is in danger, I will do and I will act. I must.” 

But the highest judge in Egypt called the near elimination of checks and balances a “unprecedented attack” on the judicial branch. 

The development of his new power came to fruition on Thursday in an assembly mostly dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, where a new constitution was being drafted. The new constitution stated that it had immunity to any legal opposition. 

In response to the judge’s pleas thousands in Tahrir Square joined in protest against Morsi.

Morsi’s supporters, who are mostly from the Muslim Brotherhood, announced that they are organizing a counter protest.