The Egyptian parliament has voted to extend President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s presidential term until 2030, while approving constitutional amendments.
According to Dawn news reports, deputies also welcomed other constitutional amendments, including providing a greater influence in political life to the country’s military and giving Sisi more control over the judiciary. The changes are expected to be put forth for a public referendum later this month.
Al-Ahram news website and broadcaster Nile TV reported: “The president’s current term shall expire at the end of six years from the date of his election as president in 2018,” adding, “He can be re-elected for another (six-year) term.”
Sisi won his first presidential term in 2014 and was then re-elected in March 2018 with more than 97 per cent of the vote in favour. Human Rights groups condemned Sisi’s government for the repression of political opponents.
Member of Parliament Mohamed Abu Hamed, who pushed for constitutional amendments to provide Sisi next term as president, said, “The constitution in 2014 was written under tough exceptional circumstances.”
Hamed hailed Sisi who “took important political, economic and security measures … (and) must continue with his reforms” in the face of unrest gripping nations. He added that keeping Sisi in power reflected “the will of the people”.
The constitutional amendments were introduced initially in February by Sisi’s parliamentary supporters and after several rounds of debates, the amendments were updated this week.