Egypt approved the new Constitution in a
referendum held by the Egypt’s electoral commission on 18 January 2014.The
proposed new Constitution was drafted by a 50-member
committee headed by Amr Moussa in December 2013.
The new Constitution strengthens the Egypt’s
three key institutions the military, the police and the judiciary. Also, it
provides for giving more rights to women and disabled people. It removed
certain Islamist-leaning clauses while maintaining the principles of Islamic
sharia as the main source of legislation.
Main features of
new Constitution
• The President can serve a term of four years for two times and can be
impeached by the Parliament.
• Islam
remains the state religion but it provides for absolute religious freedom
giving some protection to minorities (Christians and Jews).
• The state guarantees equality between men and women.
• Parties may not
be formed on the grounds of religion, race, gender or geography.
• Military to appoint defence minister for
next eight years.
The overwhelming support for the new
Constitution is seen as citizens legitimizing military government after the
ouster of Morsi in 2013. The referendum shows that citizens of Egypt indirectly
support military chief General
Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi as Presidential candidate.