Egyptian voters back constitutional changes in referendum

Egyptian voters wait in line to cast ballot at a polling station in a referendum on constitutional amendments which may allow incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power until 2030, on 20 April, 2019 in Cairo, Egypt [Stringer/Anadolu Agency]

Nearly 90 per cent of Egyptian voters have approved in a referendum constitutional changes that could see President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stay in power until 2030, the election commission said on Tuesday, reports Reuters.

Voter turnout during the three-day referendum was 44.33 per cent and 88.83 per cent of those taking part approved the amendments, commission chairman Lasheen Ibrahim said.

“These (changes) are effective from now as your constitution,” Ibrahim told a news conference broadcast on state TV, adding that more than 23.4 million voters had endorsed the changes in the referendum.

READ: Egypt voters coerced, bribed with food at referendum polling stations

The amendments, which were approved by Egypt’s parliament last week, will extend Sisi’s current term to six years from four and allow him to run again for a third six-year term in 2024.

They will also bolster the role of the military and expand the president’s power over judicial appointments.

Constitutional proposals could allow Sisi to stay in power till 2034 – Cartoon [Mohammad Sabaaneh/Middle East Monitor]

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