Egyptians Vote in Referendum on a New Constitution
Egyptians are voting today and tomorrow on a new constitution which bans political parties based on "religion, race, gender or geography" such as the Muslim Brotherhood and strengthens the military and the police. The constitution also guarantees equality between the sexes and establishes Islam as the state religion.
Read the draft constitution here.
Unsurprisingly, the Muslim Brotherhood, which backs ousted President Morsi, is calling for a boycott of the vote.
According to the BBC, five people have been killed in clashes and there was an explosion in Cairo, although no one was reported injured or killed in that incident.
As Reuters explains, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is widely expected to announce his candidacy for president in an upcoming election, which could take place in April:
The referendum is a milestone in the political transition plan the army-backed government has billed as a path back to democracy even as it presses a fierce crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's best organized party until last year.
A presidential election could follow as early as April.
Echoing a view widely held in Egypt, a senior European diplomat said Sisi would probably announce his candidacy in the next few days - a prospect that will delight supporters but could stir more conflict with his Islamist opponents.
Read Reason's Ed Krayewski's article "Egypt Should Adopt the U.S. Constitution As Its Model" here.
