Egypt's Parliament Backs Measures to Extend Sisi's Term
CAIRO (Dispatches) – Egypt’s parliament has approved amendments to the constitution that could keep President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in power until 2030, though they still have to be endorsed in a referendum to take effect.
The changes would extend Sisi’s current term to six years from four and then allow him to run again for a third term, which would last six years. The amendments would also bolster the role of the military in political life and increase the president’s power over the judiciary, critics of the changes say.
The 596-member parliament, which is dominated by Sisi supporters, voted 531 to 22 in favor of the amendments.
A date for the referendum has not yet been confirmed, but Cairo is full of banners encouraging Egyptians to participate.
Sisi’s supporters say the changes are necessary to give him more time to complete major development projects and economic reforms. His critics say they concentrate more powers in the hands of a leader accused by rights groups of presiding over a relentless crackdown on freedoms.
"This will result in the most centralized system for rule that Egypt has seen in almost half a century,” said Nathan Brown, professor of political science at George Washington University.
Egyptian authorities blocked more than 34,000 internet websites in an attempt to restrict the Void campaign, which had been launched to rally Egyptians against the amendments.
The campaign had collected more than 250,000 signatures and had established five new websites in an attempt to counter the ban.
Moreover, prominent dissident actors Khaled Abol Naga and Amr Waked had denounced the changes to the constitution as a power grab.
"These amendments would take us back to a dictatorship fit for the Middle Ages,” Waked told a news conference in the Swiss city of Geneva.
His fellow actor criticized Sisi's narrative that his rule brought stability.
"Where is there stability in a country that jails children... that treats people badly or that kills?” he questioned.
Amnesty International said that by approving the amendments, the parliamentarians had shown a "complete disregard for human rights.”
"These amendments aim to expand military trials for civilians, undermine the independence of the judiciary, and strengthen impunity for human rights violations by members of the security forces,” Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Magdalena Mughrabi, said.
The changes would extend Sisi’s current term to six years from four and then allow him to run again for a third term, which would last six years. The amendments would also bolster the role of the military in political life and increase the president’s power over the judiciary, critics of the changes say.
The 596-member parliament, which is dominated by Sisi supporters, voted 531 to 22 in favor of the amendments.
A date for the referendum has not yet been confirmed, but Cairo is full of banners encouraging Egyptians to participate.
Sisi’s supporters say the changes are necessary to give him more time to complete major development projects and economic reforms. His critics say they concentrate more powers in the hands of a leader accused by rights groups of presiding over a relentless crackdown on freedoms.
"This will result in the most centralized system for rule that Egypt has seen in almost half a century,” said Nathan Brown, professor of political science at George Washington University.
Egyptian authorities blocked more than 34,000 internet websites in an attempt to restrict the Void campaign, which had been launched to rally Egyptians against the amendments.
The campaign had collected more than 250,000 signatures and had established five new websites in an attempt to counter the ban.
Moreover, prominent dissident actors Khaled Abol Naga and Amr Waked had denounced the changes to the constitution as a power grab.
"These amendments would take us back to a dictatorship fit for the Middle Ages,” Waked told a news conference in the Swiss city of Geneva.
His fellow actor criticized Sisi's narrative that his rule brought stability.
"Where is there stability in a country that jails children... that treats people badly or that kills?” he questioned.
Amnesty International said that by approving the amendments, the parliamentarians had shown a "complete disregard for human rights.”
"These amendments aim to expand military trials for civilians, undermine the independence of the judiciary, and strengthen impunity for human rights violations by members of the security forces,” Amnesty's deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, Magdalena Mughrabi, said.