For an entire year since the January revolution, the doctrine of “revolutionary legitimacy” has been prevalent — namely that the gallows or shooting squads are ready to target those accused of whatever crimes "the people” believe they have committed.

Ironically, some who champion this doctrine lived through the eras of Hamza El-Bassiouny and the July 1952 Revolution tribunals based on revolutionary legitimacy, that killed Abdel-Qader Ouda, Shohdi Atteya and other activists.

Once the revolutionary legitimacy fervour was crushed by the June 1967 defeat, they were the first to show sudden signs of democratic tendencies and bemoaned the fact that while the July 1952 Revolution was magnificent, its only fault was the absence of law and democracy.

Most often than not, nature prevails over nurture, and when the era of the January revolution arrived they were the first to demand the restoration of “revolutionary legitimacy”. This would prevent the “bogeyman” from reaching parliament and executing whomever it views as guilty without legal basis, evidence, proof, or heed to the rights of defence, the defendant and society.

Today, one year after the revolution, a legitimately elected parliament that represents the nation, its institutions and laws is holding its first session.

Some of us may not like the results, but this was the choice of the people and ballot boxes. Others believe that the electoral process is faulty, but that is the mission of the elected representatives of the people. Meanwhile, others believe that the soldiers of the revolution — whether January or July — did not gain much, and therefore perhaps it’s time for them to find out why the people did not vote for them in elections where they possessed money, the media and occupied streets and squares.

Today is the revolution of legitimacy in Egypt after one year of immense pressure that could have trampled it under foot. Legitimacy is the nation that survived for thousands of year and remained a bond among Egyptians, as a distinguished entity that played a role in the history of the world and region. Now, it has the opportunity to make this legacy part of the future and not just talk of the past.

The grave threat facing civic legitimacy does not come from the parties that won, as claimed by some political groups in an attempt to twist apparent truths that are obvious to everyone. The danger comes from those calling for anarchy, and that want to impose a new dictatorship that does not originate in palaces of power but the streets.

Those meeting today under the dome of the People’s Assembly deserve praise and acknowledgement, not for their victory in general elections but for the great, immense and difficult task ahead of them. Roll up your sleeves and begin building.