Egypt to vote on new constitution in December 15th referendum

Egypt’s President Morsi has said country’s new will be put to a referendum on December 15th.

Mohammed Morsi made the announcement before the Islamist-dominated , which rushed to approve the document earlier in the week.

Both the draft constitution and a recent decree giving Mohammed Morsi sweeping new powers have prompted widespread protests by opponents of the president.

However, his Islamist supporters held their own demonstrations on Saturday.

After receiving a copy of the document, Mohammed Morsi called “all Egyptians to a referendum on the draft constitution on Saturday 15 December”.

If approved, the new text will overwrite all constitutional declarations – including Mohammed Morsi’s decree issued on the 22 November – and a new parliament should be elected within 60 days.

The constituent assembly voted on and passed all 234 articles during a marathon session that began on Thursday and continued through the night.

Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi has said countrys new draft constitution will be put to a referendum on December 15th 350x233 photo

Egypt’s President Mohammed Morsi has said country’s new draft constitution will be put to a referendum on December 15th

Liberals, secularists and Christians walked out of the assembly saying the changes were being forced through.

“Morsi put to referendum a draft constitution that undermines basic freedoms and violates universal values. The struggle will continue,” key opposition figure tweeted on Saturday.

Among the historic changes to Egypt’s system of government, the draft limits a president to two four-year terms. It also introduces some civilian oversight of the military.

The draft keeps in place an article defining “principles of Sharia”, or Islamic law, as the main source of legislation.

Earlier, tens of thousands of Islamist supporters of the president gathered outside Cairo University.

“The people support the president’s decision!” they chanted, while a banner read: “The people want the implementation of God’s law.”

EGYPT-POLITICS-COURT-DEMOEgypt’s Judges’ Club boycotts Mohammed Morsi’s referendum on country’s new constitution Egypt's Islamist-run assembly has backed a draft constitution, including a measure keeping sharia as the main source of legislationEgypt’s Constituent Assembly backs draft constitution According to unofficial and preliminary results, Egyptians appear to have approved the controversial new constitution in a referendumEgypt’s new constitution approved in referendum Mohamed Morsi has ordered the military to maintain security and protect Egypt institutions in the run-up to a controversial referendum on a new constitutionMohamed Morsi gives army arrest powers before referendum on new constitution Egypt's National Salvation Front has demanded an inquiry into the referendum on the draft constitution, citing fraudEgypt opposition alleges fraud at constitutional referendum Fresh clashes have broken out in the Egyptian city of Alexandria on the eve of the second leg of voting in the country's constitutional referendumEgypt’s constitutional referendum sparks fresh Alexandria unrest Egypt begins voting in a second stage of a constitutional referendum that has sparked weeks of unrest in the country’s main citiesEgypt votes in the second stage of constitutional referendum More than 60 percent of voters backed the new Egypt’s constitution in a referendum, although only a third of the electorate votedEgypt referendum result: More than 60% of voters back the new constitution
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Posted by on Dec 1 2012. Filed under Front Page, Middle East News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.

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