CAIRO: The constitutional amendments committee will finalize its recommendations in two or three days, head of the committee Justice Tarek El-Beshry told DNE Thursday. "We have two to three days to finish our work," El-Beshry, also former vice chairman of the State Council, said, adding that "the committee has finalized a considerable part of the discussions." The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces formed this committee of legal experts to study and prepare limited amendments to the constitution. The council suspended the constitution on Feb. 13 after it assumed power when former president Hosni Mubarak stepped down. El-Beshry declined to disclose any details about the committee's recommended amendments, but leaked information has appeared in several local newspapers. Independent daily Al-Shorouk quoted “sources close to the committee” as saying that the first phase of amending the constitution was finalized. The following stage entails amending the laws complementing the changed articles, including, but not limited to, the laws regulating the exercise of political rights and establishing political parties. The report said that the law for establishing political parties may be amended and replaced by a decree issued directly by the ruling military council. Independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm said the committee has agreed to adding an article to the constitution obliging the new president to form a committee of 100 to 200 figures representing all social segments to set up a new constitution. With regards to establishing political parties, this would only require notifying authorities rather than seeking a license, the paper said. Article 77 would also be amended to limit the presidential term to four or five years instead of six, the paper added. El-Beshry, however, expressed that he doesn't know “how they got this information. I can neither confirm nor deny these details," he said. "This is what I have been telling all journalists.” El-Beshry further said that members of the committee had vowed to keep the discussions confidential so that they can work well together. Lawyer Sobhi Saleh, a committee member, told Daily News Egypt that the members will meet with the military council on Saturday to discuss the suggested amendments and the date on which to announce them to the public. "We expect to reach an agreement during the meeting," he said, adding that the committee has already submitted its suggestions and will be working on the related laws in the coming few days. Saleh, a lawyer and a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, declined to unveil any details about the amendments. He described the discussions among the committee members as being “fruitful, serious and deep. “I can say with a sigh of relief that the committee's decisions are unanimous,” Saleh added. During the first televised interview with representatives of the military council, an army general said that the suggested amendments will be put forth for public debate including civil society, citizens and the media before conducting a referendum. However, Saleh said that the articles the committee will propose will be the final version that will be put up for the vote. "The [General] meant that before issuing its decision, the army will take some time to feel the pulse of the public and [figure out] whether the amendments are satisfactory or not," Saleh explained. "A counselor or a university professor may ... philosophize saying that there is a defect [in one of the articles]," he added. Saleh further added that the army meant to convey the idea that it is not acting haphazardly and that it will consider all points of view. On his part, El-Beshry confirmed that the army will seek public opinion and insight into the amendments. A public referendum will be held within two months of the announcement and will be carried out under full judicial supervision. Most of the articles to be amended have to do with legislative and presidential elections and parliamentary and presidential jurisdictions. Article 179, which allows the president to transfer "terrorism-related” cases to military courts, will be cancelled altogether. The Egyptian constitution is made of 211 articles. It was adopted in 1971 and amended in 1980, 2005 and 2007.
