Egypt’s political legitimacy crisis, triggered by a November 22 power grab by President Mohamed Morsi and deepened when a constitutional draft was rushed through the country’s Islamist-dominated constitutional assembly, is negatively impacting efforts to bolster the country’s economy. Concerns over Egypt’s democratic transition have caused Germany to suspend debt relief, with German Development Minister Dirk Niebel explicitly citing worries that “the dictatorial system of ousted president (Hosni) Mubarak is returning.” Niebel noted that upcoming talks on development assistance had also been suspended, and that future aid would be linked to Egyptian progress on the building of civil institutions and reinforcing the rule of law.