Egyptians approve reforms in historic vote

The turnout in the referendum was measured at 41 per cent while 77 per cent voted in favour of the proposed move.

CAIRO:

A vast majority of Egyptians approved amendments to the constitution in a referendum, results showed, opening the door to early elections seen as favouring Islamists and figures affiliated with the old ruling party.

Decades of oppression under Hosni Mubarak crushed Egypt's political life and secular groups that mobilised to oust him say a longer time is needed before elections that may now come as early as September.

One of the changes prevents a president serving more than eight years, making Egypt one of few Arab republics to set such a restriction. Mubarak, ousted by a popular uprising on Feb. 11, ruled for three decades before handing power to the military.

Saturday's vote was the first in living memory whose outcome was not a foregone conclusion and 77 per cent voted 'yes'.

“Egyptians came forward to have their say in the future of the country,” said Mohammed Ahmed Attiyah, the head of the judicial oversight committee, announcing a 41 per cent turnout.

Turnout was always very low for elections which were routinely rigged under Mubarak.

The amendments were drawn up by a judicial panel appointed by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. The military says it wants to relinquish authority to an elected government

as quickly as possible.

The referendum divided Egyptians between those who said the reforms would suffice for now and others who said the constitution needed a complete rewrite.

“Liberal, secular voices had better unite now and go down to the streets to raise awareness,” said Hossein Gohar, 46, a doctor.

The reforms were backed by the Muslim Brotherhood and remnants of Mubarak's National Democratic Party, which had called on voters to support the changes.

“The main fear is that it will be interpreted by some of the political forces that supported the referendum as a kind of support for their programmes, and I mean the Islamists,” political analyst Diaa Rashwan told Reuters.

The referendum was a milestone on the course charted by the military towards elections. The military has signalled the parliamentary election could happen in September, with the presidential vote after that.

Two presidential candidates, Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa and Mohamed ElBaradei, the former head of the UN watchdog, had opposed the changes.

Hassan Nafaa, a political scientist, said he was surprised by the margin of the win. The 'yes' vote appeared to have been boosted by the support of conservative groups linked to the government, rural classes and the poorly educated, he said.

“I thought that the gap would be minimal,” he said. “The more liberal, enlightened, and educated segment of society voted 'No',” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2011.