2LT International News

CAIRO, Egypt – Public figures and politicians from across Egypt have protested at a move to alter the country’s constitution to enable the current President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power.

One hundred and seventy leading figures in Egypt have signed a statement objecting to calls to amend the constituion, and vowed to oppose any measure to bring about any change.

“These calls have a sole objective, which is extending the presidential term of the current president despite the presence of an article banning any amendment,” the statement signed by the 170 dignitaries says.

“The Constitution is a contract between the ruler and the people, and it has been drafted to turn it into laws that guarantee security, stability and development for serving the citizens.” 

The statement went on to say the signatories would use: “all means of peaceful resistance to reject any new tampering with the Constitution.”  

Former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi and rights activist Gamal Eid are among those that have signed the statement. 

The Constitution as it stands provides for a four-year term for an elected president, with the option to run for re-election only once.

Current President al-Sisi, a former chief in the Egyptian army, came to power at the point-of-a-gun in a military coup in  2013, deposing former President Mohamed Morsi, who was the country’s first democratically elected president, and had served only one year in office.

After taking control of the government al-Sisi branded his predecessor a terrorist and jailed him.

He then staged elections in 2014, which he won.

He was re-elected in mid-2018. His term expires in 2022.