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WORLD NEWS Thursday 14 February 2019
Egypt's Parliament to vote on extending president's term

By SAMY MAGDY "These amendments rein- judges and bypass judicia-
Associated Press force efforts of President el- ry oversight in vetting draft
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's Par- Sissi's military-backed gov- legislation before it is voted
liament began delibera- ernment to stifle people's into law. The amendments
tions Wednesday over con- ability to challenge those in declare the country's mili-
stitutional amendments power," said Michael Page tary "guardian and protec-
that could allow President of the New York-based tor" of the Egyptian state,
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to stay group. "If the amendments democracy and the con-
in office till 2034 — 12 more are passed, there is a clear stitution, while also granting
years after his current, sec- risk that they will formally military courts wider juris-
ond term expires in 2022. give the armed forces un- diction in trying civilians.
The development comes checked authority." In the last three years, over
amid concerns that Egypt The vote had initially been 15,000 civilians, including
is slipping back into au- scheduled for next week, children, have been re-
thoritarianism, eight years but was moved up. A coali- ferred to military prosecu- Egypt's Parliament meets to deliberate over constitutional
after a pro-democracy tion of nearly a dozen op- tion in Egypt, according to amendments that could allow President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to
stay in office till 2034, in Cairo Egypt, Wednesday, Feb 13, 2019.
uprising ended autocratic position parties has come Human Rights Watch.q Associated Press
President Hosni Mubarak's out against the amend-
nearly three-decade rule. ments, but on their own
The amendments also they will not be able to
boost the power of the mili- block them.
tary, already the dominant El-Sissi, who previously held
force in Egyptian politics. the office of military chief,
Lawmakers are expected led the military's 2013 over-
to vote on Thursday, af- throw of the freely elected
ter which the text of the but divisive Islamist presi-
amendments would be fi- dent, Mohammed Morsi,
nalized by a special legis- after protests against his
lative committee and sent rule. El-Sissi was elected
back to the assembly for president the following
a final decision within two year and has since presid-
months. ed over an unprecedent-
The 596-seat assembly, ed crackdown on dissent.
which is packed with el- He was re-elected last year
Sissi's supporters, already after all potentially serious
gave its preliminary ap- challengers were jailed or
proval to the changes last pressured to exit the race.
week. The amendments Along with extending a
are almost certain to be president's term in office
overwhelmingly approved from four to six years, the
by the legislature, but will amendments include a
also need to be put to a special article that applies
national referendum to be- only to el-Sissi and allows
come law. him to run for two more six-
The referendum is likely to year terms after his current
take place before the Mus- term expires in 2022.
lim holy month of Rama- The amendments also en-
dan, which is expected to visage the office of one
start in early May this year. or two vice presidents, a
Parliament Speaker Ali revived Senate, and a 25
Abdel-Al opened Wednes- percent quota for women
day's session, telling law- in parliament. They call for
makers in the packed "adequate" representation
chamber that there will for workers, farmers, young
be a "national dialogue" people and people with
and that "all opinions and special needs in the legis-
trends will be included in lature.
the discussions." The president would have
Wednesday's parliament the power to appoint top
session was not broadcast
on TV although by evening
several videos emerged
on social media showing
lawmakers speaking for or
against the amendments.
Human Rights Watch said
the amendments would
undermine judicial inde-
pendence and expand
executive powers that are
already being abused in
Egypt.