MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Massive support in Egypt for constitutional amendments

The ‘yes’ vote paves the way for a quick parliamentary election

Egyptians have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a package of constitutional amendments, according to official results released on Sunday evening. Slightly more than 77% of voters endorsed the amendments, the country's supreme judicial committee has announced.

Roughly 18 million Egyptians went to the polls on Saturday, a 41% turnout. It's a better result than many past elections: The country's fraud-plagued parliamentary ballot last year had less than 25% turnout, and possibly as low as 10%, according to some sources.

Voters approved a package of amendments, about half of which deal with elections. One loosens the requirements for independent candidates seeking the presidency; another restores full judicial oversight for elections.

Other provisions limit the presidency to two four-year terms (currently, there is no limit), and require a public referendum for any state of emergency that lasts longer than six months (the country has been under one for the last 30 years).

The “yes” vote also paves the way for a quick parliamentary election, which the ruling military junta has said will be held in June.

Egypt's two main political forces, the former ruling National Democratic Party and the Muslim Brotherhood, both urged a “yes” vote on the referendum. Critics say that's because they benefit from the quick timetable for elections.

As established political parties, they will have an edge in mobilising resources and fielding candidates. The rest of the country's opposition parties all pushed for a ‘no’ vote, as did the coalition of youth activists who led the revolution that toppled former president Hosni Mubarak.

One of the provisions, the revised article 189, requires the new parliament to appoint a constitutional assembly within six months of taking office. That group will be responsible for drafting an entirely new constitution, which - if approved in a separate referendum - would take effect next year.