The Egyptian House of Representative passed on Tuesday proposed amendments to Egypt’s 2014 Constitution which shall allow the current president to stay in power until 2024 and run for a third term until 2030.
The parliament voted by names on each article separately. The amendments will be sent to president for ratification and the National Electoral Commission for deciding the date of referendum.
Local media expected that Egyptians abroad would vote in the referendum on 20 and 21 April, while the citizens inside Egypt will likely vote on 22, 23, and 24 April.
The approved amendments included extending the presidential term to six years instead of four, and the president cannot remain in office for more than two consecutive terms.
It also includes a traditional article allowing the current president to stay in power until 2024 instead of 2022, and to be re-elected for another six-year term.
Moreover, in Article 150, the president has the right to appoint one or more vice presidents and define their roles. He may also delegate his vices to perform some of his presidential duties and dismiss them or accept their resignations.
The amendments also include changes to Article 102, reducing the number of elected MPs in the House of Representatives from 596 to 450 MPs, allocating at least 25% of the seats for women.
However, amendments of Article 160 stipulate that if president faced temporary obstacle which could make him unable to perform his duties, he can be replaced by his vice president or prime minister.
Another articles was also approved related to the role of the armed forces which stipulates that its job is to protect the country and safeguard its security, preserve the constitution and democracy, maintain the basic pillars of the state and its civilian nature, and support the rights and freedoms of citizens. The state will be exclusively authorised to create such forces, and any other individual, authority, or group will be banned from forming military or semi-military organisations.
For Article 2014, civilians can face trial before military courts only in cases of assaulting military establishments, camps, and zones, illegally crossing borders, seizing military equipment, weapons, and ammunition. Military trials can also cover crimes related to recruitment of militants and assaulting officers or personnel affiliated with the armed forces while they are performing their duties.
Furthermore, in Article 185, each individual judicial authority shall take charge of running its own affairs, and it will be consulted on laws regulating its own business. The president shall appoint the heads of judicial authorities from five candidates who will be nominated by their higher councils for a term of four years.
Additionally, Article 185 states that a higher council for judicial authorities will be created, and to be headed by the president. The formed council will be responsible for the affairs of judicial authorities. A law to be issued to regulate the roles of the higher council for judicial authorities and council decisions are to be taken by consensus of its members.
