Egypt plans new climate finance platform to green industrial sector    Gold prices edge higher on July 16th    Egypt stocks hit record highs in 2025 as reforms fuel rally: Cabinet    Egypt condemns Israeli strikes on Lebanon, Syria    Egypt signs strategic agreements to attract global investment in gold, mineral exploration    Egypt launches first national workshop on food systems, climate action with UN, global partners    Al-Sisi reviews Egypt's food security, strategic commodity reserves    Syria says it will defend its territory after Israeli strikes in Suwayda    Egypt urges EU support for Gaza ceasefire, reconstruction at Brussels talks    Pakistan names Qatari royal as brand ambassador after 'Killer Mountain' climb    Health Ministry denies claims of meningitis-related deaths among siblings    Egypt's Health Min. discusses drug localisation with Sandoz    Egypt, Mexico explore joint action on environment, sustainability    Egypt, Mexico discuss environmental cooperation, combating desertification    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM urges BRICS to prioritise peace    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Factbox - Egypt's constitutional referendum
Published in The Egyptian Gazette on 20 - 03 - 2011

CAIRO - Votes have been counted in a referendum on proposed constitutional changes that will determine how quickly Egypt holds elections after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.
The referendum has divided reformist Egyptians between those who say the proposed reforms are insufficient and those who are satisfied for now.
Following are details on referendum procedures and the views for and against: Constitutional amendments limit a president to two four-year terms and require the president to appoint a vice president within 60 days of taking office.
They also enforce judicial supervision of elections, stipulate parliament must approve any state of emergency and cancel the president's right to use military courts.
Up to 45 million citizens were eligible to vote in the referendum in more than 54,000 polling stations across Egypt monitored by 17,000 judges, the referendum committee said. Independent monitors said turnout was heavy.
Voters aged 18 or older were allowed to cast ballots using just their National ID cards, opening the door to many Egyptians who did not have special voting cards that were mandatory in previous elections.
If voters vote for the amendments, parliamentary elections could take place in late September.
If the amendments are rejected, Egypt's ruling military council will immediately issue a constitutional decree as a temporary charter until parliamentary and presidential polls.
Elections would be pushed to December and early 2012 and the the army would remain in power until elections are held, security sources said.
Pro-democracy youth activists who led the Jan. 25 Revolution called for a "no" vote, with several activists touring cities across country to mobilise mass rejection.
Protest groups Kefaya, April Sixth, and the coalition for January 25 Revolution called for a united front to resist the referendum which they said in a group statement was "an attempt to abort revolution".
They called for a "founding assembly" which the people would elect to write the new constitution after which parliamentary and presidential elections would be held.
Others called for the appointment of a presidential council of technocrats and for the judiciary to write the constitution and guide the transitional period.
-- Presidential candidate Mohamed ElBaradei said the amendments would take Egypt in the "opposite direction" of reform and said he would vote against them.
-- Presidential candidate Amr Moussa, who is secretary-general of the Arab League, rejected the amendments and said writing a new constitution was a priority.
-- The New National Democratic Party, formerly Mubarak's ruling party, backed the amendments.
-- The liberal nationalist Wafd party rejected the amendments, citing reasons such as the failure of the changes to limit the powers of the president.
-- The biggest opposition force in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood, backed the amendments, saying the country needed to start functioning again to prevent army rule from dragging on too long.
-- Salafists, a group of conservative Muslims who were long oppressed by Mubarak, have resurfaced and some have said they believe the amendments are a step in the right direction.
-- Christians make up 10 per cent of Egypt's population and some Coptic Christians called for the scrapping of Article 2, which says Islam is the religion of the state and Islamic jurisprudence the main source of legislation. As a result, many Christians are against the changes as not going far enough.


Clic here to read the story from its source.