CAIRO: As a referendum on proposed constitutional amendments draws closer in Egypt, controversy over the amendments is increasing. The March 19 referrendum will allow Egyptians to vote ‘yes' or ‘no' to proposed amendments on eight articles of the Egyptian constitution. The amendments were proposed by a panel appointed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, in charge of the country's administration since the resignation of former president Hosni Mubarak last month. However, human rights organizations, judges, constitutional scholars, activists, and opposition parties and movements such as al-Wafd Party, al-Tagammua Party, and the Coalition of the Youth of the January 25 Revolution have all expressed their disapproval of the amendments. The amendments do not limit the powers of the President, which are essentially unlimited under the current constitution. The Muslim Brotherhood and the formerly ruling National Democratic Party have expressed their approval of the proposed amendments. Should the amendments pass, they will allow full judicial supervision of elections, limit presidential terms to only two, and limit presidential candidates to Egyptians born to two Egyptian parents who have never held another nationality and are not married to a foreigner. The Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition group, and the NDP have issued directives to their supporters to vote in favor of the amendments. The amendments also require a new parliament to write a new constitution, which would meet further calls for change, said Essam el-Erian, the Brotherhood's spokesman, in a statement on the organization's website on Saturday. He called on everyone to participate in the referendum, saying that Egypt needs to restart polical life, and to hand over the power to a civilian rule within the six months determined by the SCAF. The statement added that the Muslim Brotherhood proposed the creation of a unified electoral list to include all political figures before the upcoming parliamentary elections slated to be conducted in June. The group stressed that it is not seeking the majority of parliamentary seats and plans to contest only 40 percent of the seats in the new parliament. It also does not intend to nominate a candidate for presidential elections and said parliamentary elections must be held prior to presidential elections, as holding presidential elections first could bring a new dictator to power. The Secretary General of the NDP, Mohammed Ragab, said in a press release that he has directed party leaders across Egypt to participate in the referendum and vote in favor of the proposed amendments, as the party believes the amendments will help the country to move towards democracy. Several political figures, youth movements and intellectuals believe that delaying parliamentary elections will give more time for political parties to prepare and create more diversity in elections, saying that conducting parliamentary elections in Jule will lead the Muslim Brotherhood or the NDP to dominate the parliament. Also on Sunday, the SCAF warned against any strikes or protests to be held on the same day of the referendum in Egypt, saying that it will not tolerate any disruption attempt against the planned referendum. The SCAF added that whoever tries to disrupt the referendum will be subjected to penalty according to the laws of thuggery. March 19 will be a national holiday to allow Egyptians to go out and vote, said a spokesman of the SCAF. BM
