Egyptians Vote for Referendum on New constitution

Background to the Referendum Vote on New Constitution

 The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf)on June 15,2012  issued a decree dissolving the People's Assembly, a day after the Supreme Constitutional Court found the law that governed Egypt's first democratic elections in more than six decades unconstitutional.

On June 17,2012 the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (Scaf) issued an interim constitutional declaration that gave it all legislative powers until a new parliament is elected. 

The court ruled that party members should not have been allowed to contest the one third of the seats designated for independents. The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) won several 235 seats in the People's Assembly(Egypt's Lower House of Parliament) by running candidates for individual seats, as did the ultraconservative Salafist Nour party.

Mohammed Morsi took office on June 30, 2012 as Egypt's first democratically elected head of state.Following his inauguration,on Aug 12,2012 Mohammed Morsi revoked the interim declaration issued by scaf in June and transferred the powers the generals had assumed to the presidency, including absolute legislative authority.
Mohammed Morsi also made a series of personnel changes in top military positions, including forcing the retirement of the head of the armed forces and defence minister, Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, and legally reinserting the president as chairman of the Scaf.
The response to Mohammed Morsi's August decrees was by and large favourable, but there was widespread anger on Nov 22,2012 when, with the constitutional assembly on the brink of collapse and protests over the slow pace of change,Mohammed Morsi issued an interim constitutional declaration granting himself far-reaching powers.
Article 2 stated that all constitutional declarations, laws and decrees issued by Mr Morsi since he took office were "final and unchallengeable by any individual or body until a new constitution has been ratified and a new parliament has been elected".
Article 6 of the declaration granted the president the "power to take all necessary measures and procedures" against any potential threat to the revolution, national unity or national security.
Mohammed Morsi's declaration also stated that both the constituent assembly and the upper house of parliament, the Shura Council, could not be dissolved by the judiciary

On Nov 24,2012 a number of political parties and leading figures formed a coalition, the 'National Salvation Front(NSF) to force the president to rescind his decree and form a more representative constituent assembly. After the draft constitution was finalised two days later, the NSF added the postponement of the referendum to its list of demands.

Mohamed ElBaradei, the former UN diplomat who is co-ordinator of the NSF, said the draft constitution belonged in the "garbage bin of history".

ElBaradei  said President Morsi's refusal to postpone the referendum until there was consensus on the draft charter had "closed the door to any dialogue".

NSF leaders considered boycotting the referendum, but on 12 December they announced that the coalition would participate, albeit with conditions.

Hamdeen Sabahi, head of the Popular Current, said at a news conference: "The front decided to call upon the people to go to the polling stations and reject the draft by saying 'No'."
He said the coalition would urge its supporters to boycott if the following conditions were not met by the government:

• Voting on one day alone
• Judicial supervision of polling stations
• Sufficient security presence inside and outside polling stations
• Monitoring by local and international non-governmental organisations
• Detailed results announced once counting was complete

On Dec 12,2012, State Media reported that due to the shortage of judges willing to supervise the referendum, voting would take place over two days.
 The main cities of Cairo and Alexandria, along with 8 other governorates, would vote on Dec 15,2012, and a further 17 governorates would vote on Dec 22,2012

Egypt Constitution Vote - Saturday Dec 15,2012

 

The simple ballot paper asks voters to either endorse or oppose the new constitution.

Early indications suggested that a majority of those who have voted so far may have backed the document.Saturday's vote was held in Cairo, Alexandria and 8 other provinces.In the first round of voting, about 56 % said “yes” to the charter and the turnout was about 32 %

Constitution at a glance

• Sharia remains the main source of legislation
• Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's leading authority, to be consulted on "matters related to Sharia"
• Christianity and Judaism to be the main source of legislation for Christians and Jews
• Religious freedom to be limited to Muslims, Christians and Jews
• Limits president to two four-year terms of office

 

Egypt Constitution Vote - Saturday Dec 22,2012

 

Saturday’s voting in 17 of Egypt’s 27 provinces was the second and final round of the referendum. Preliminary results released early Sunday by Mr. Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood showed that 71.4 percent of those who voted Saturday said “yes” after 95.5 % of the ballots were counted.  

 

 

Only about eight million of the 25 million Egyptians eligible to vote a turnout of about 30 % cast their ballots.

 

 

Both rounds of voting saw claims by the opposition and rights groups of voting violations. On Saturday, they said violations ranged from polling stations opening late to Islamists seeking to influence voters to say “yes.” The official MENA news agency said at least two judges have been removed for coercing voters to cast “yes” ballots .

 The results of the two rounds mean the referendum was approved by about 63%.The new constitution would come into effect once official results are announced.