CAIRO: authorities have scheduled a nationwide referendum on proposed constitutional changes that could see President remain in power until 2030.
Lasheen Ibrahim, chairman of the National Election Authority, says Wednesday the vote will take place Saturday through Monday. He says Egyptian expatriates will vote Friday through Sunday.
Parliament overwhelmingly approved the amendments on Tuesday. They would only extend a president’s term in office from 4 to 6 years. But they include a special article specific to el-Sissi to extend his current, second term to six years and allow him to run for another six-year term in 2024.
The proposals are seen by critics as another step back to authoritarianism, 8 years after a pro-democracy uprising ended autocrat ‘s 3-decade rule.
