Egypt passes constitutional changes in low vote
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
A VAST majority of Egyptian voters approved the controversial changes to their constitution, the government announced yesterday, even as the opposition scoffed that few people bothered to turn up.
Justice Minister Mamduh Marei said 75.9 per cent of Egyptians who took part in the referendum voted in favour of the amendments to 34 articles proposed in December by President Hosni Mubarak.
He added that 27.1 per cent of the 35-million-strong electorate participated.
Opposition parties — which had called for a boycott of the referendum — contested the figure, arguing that turnout did not even reach the 10 per cent mark, while civil society groups protested of widespread vote rigging.
The regime has defended the changes as a boost to democracy and security, but observers have described the amendments, especially new anti-terrorism measures, as a major setback for basic freedoms.
Yesterday's newspapers reflected the divide.
The state-owned press hailed a successful referendum and were filled with pictures of citizens voting, while the opposition press showed empty polling stations and angry protests. "Popular turnout above expectations," read the banner headline in Al-Ahram, Egypt's premier state-owned daily.AFP
Justice Minister Mamduh Marei said 75.9 per cent of Egyptians who took part in the referendum voted in favour of the amendments to 34 articles proposed in December by President Hosni Mubarak.
He added that 27.1 per cent of the 35-million-strong electorate participated.
Opposition parties — which had called for a boycott of the referendum — contested the figure, arguing that turnout did not even reach the 10 per cent mark, while civil society groups protested of widespread vote rigging.
The regime has defended the changes as a boost to democracy and security, but observers have described the amendments, especially new anti-terrorism measures, as a major setback for basic freedoms.
Yesterday's newspapers reflected the divide.
The state-owned press hailed a successful referendum and were filled with pictures of citizens voting, while the opposition press showed empty polling stations and angry protests. "Popular turnout above expectations," read the banner headline in Al-Ahram, Egypt's premier state-owned daily.AFP
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