Egypt: National referendum on new draft of Constitution to take place on 14-15 January

The Interim President of Egypt, Adly Mansour on 14 December 2013 announced 14-15 January 2014 as the date for national referendum on the new draft of the constitution. The 2012 Constitution, which was approved by the Islamist dominated Parliament, under the ousted President Mohamed Morsi will be replaced by the new draft Constitution.

The Islamist drafted constitution in existence was approved by a referendum in December 2012, with 64 percent of the votes.

Amr Moussa, the head of the constitution drafting panel said that the draft constitution is a balanced constitution that provides freedoms, rights and separation of powers. As the new Constitution of Egypt protects the freedom of belief, opinion and creation, which preserves intellectual property rights, and provides gender equality. It bans the political parties on religious lines and provides for equality of citizens.

The amended draft was submitted to Mansour on 3 December 2013 by the drafting committee. The draft of the new constitution was prepared by a 50 member panel. Under the transitional roadmap after the ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the former President of Egypt in July 2013, the amended Constitution needs to be approved by a national referendum. A successful referendum vote would be followed by elections.

The constitutional drafting committee, during the amendment process decided to leave the decision on President Mansour that whether to hold presidential or parliamentary elections first.

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