Is Egypt's old regime preparing a comeback crackdown?

Shafik’s supporters are extra confident, perhaps, because it would seem that the ruling military is on their side. On Thursday, the country’s Supreme Constitutional Court dissolved the uprising’s only tangible accomplishment thus far: its democratically elected parliament, which the Muslim Brotherhood had dominated. The move swiftly eliminated the Islamists’ only center of power in a system that has yet to see a new constitution drafted or even the next president’s powers defined. And while many liberals said the military may have manipulated the verdict, they also said the Brotherhood had gotten greedy — seeking too much power, too soon, and they deserved what they got.

To Shafik’s allies, the dissolution of parliament brought them one step closer to victory. “The Muslim Brotherhood was not expecting this. They’re shocked!” Hassan Abdelbaky, a former fighter pilot who has been a close friend of Shafik’s for decades, told TIME on Saturday. The court also ruled Thursday against a law that the Brotherhood had pushed forward to exclude Shafik from the race. “[The Brotherhood] convinced themselves that the court might take Ahmed out — or at least, that the parliament would stay. But they weren’t counting on a full punch like Muhammad Ali — knocked down!” says Abdelbaky. “So now they’ve become, in my opinion as a fighter pilot, like a wounded wolf. They will attack from any side — you can’t predict it. But I think the police and the army are ready.” He beamed over gold-rimmed sunglasses.