Former Egypt PM: constitution proposals are ‘childish behaviour’

Egyptian presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq has criticised proposals to amend Egypt’s constitution describing it as childish behaviour.

In comments published on social media Shafiq said: ”My advice to anyone who supports the constitutional amendment at this stage is to stop this irresponsible childish behaviour.”

A few weeks before parliament resumes in October, pro-regime lawmakers announced their intention to make constitutional amendments amid mounting media, parliamentary and political support. The amendments will include allowing Egypt’s president to run for more than the current limit of two terms.

Calls for the amendment have been made by lawmaker Ismail Nasreddine who explained earlier that the amended presidential term would not apply to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s current term.

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The proposals to amend the constitution include the re-establishment of the Shura Council (the former chamber of parliament) and the granting of more powers to Al-Sisi, which will enable him to form a government alone and dismiss ministers, as well as amend the current term of office from four to six years.

According to the constitution, the approval of five members of the House of Representatives (120 out of a total of 596) is needed on proposals for amendments before they are discussed and voted upon, and then approved by two thirds of the members.

Shafiq, Egypt’s last prime minister under President Hosni Mubarak, entered the second round of presidential elections against Mohamed Morsi in 2012.

Shafiq has previously stated that he would not run against Al-Sisi in the 2018 presidential elections.