EGYPT
Pretenses Dropped
Egypt’s parliament approved a plan to change the constitution to allow President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to extend his rule until 2034, dashing once again the hopes for vibrant democracy engendered during the 2011 protests that led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak.
A referendum is now likely in as little as three months, with its passage seen as a foregone conclusion, the New York Timesreported.
Enshrining an authoritarian government led by the country’s powerful military, the changes would allow el-Sisi to run for two additional six-year terms after he is slated to step down in 2022, as well as empower him to appoint judges and Egypt’s prosecutor general.
The changes would grant the military the power to choose the country’s defense minister, further reducing the possibility of civilian oversight.
The initial approval – which received the backing of 484 of 596 lawmakers – paves the way for a second and final vote two months later and a referendum a month after that.
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