Fathi Sorour: Egyptian Parliament to discuss constitutional amendment on March 12
Egypt, Politics, 2/28/2005

Ahmed Fathi Sorour, Speaker of Egypt's People's Assembly, said Saturday that he General Committee of the People's Assembly will hold two meetings on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the amendment of Article 76, called for by President Hosni Mubarak.

In statements, Sorour added that the committee would outline a preliminary report on the amendment, to be discussed on March 12.

"The People's Assembly will later submit the report to its constitutional and legislative committee for discussion for at least one month, "Sorour said.

Another report will be prepared by the Constitutional and Legislative Committee, supported by assessments by parliament members, he added.

The People's Assembly will discuss the amendment on May 12, after which a referendum on the assembly's final decision will be held, he clarified.

The proposed change would allow Egyptian citizens to enter the presidential race, under certain criteria ensuring that the candidate would not manipulate the election race. The Presidential candidate would have to secure the support of a number of parliament members and members of local popular councils, or both of them, Sorour said.

The amendment would also give the right to form a higher committee to oversee the whole election process.

Once the proposed amendment is approved, any political party will then be able to nominate its candidate, the Speaker of the People's Assembly said.

Also, independent candidates can run in the elections in case they win the support of a number of parliament and local popular councils' members, he added.

In a televised address, Mubarak set some basic principles while calling upon the parliament to amend Article 76 of the constitution, saying he hoped these principles would help achieve his target of making sweeping reforms in Egypt.

The set of principles the President mentioned include, holding free direct Presidential elections, guaranteeing that political parties run in the presidential race, and allowing multiple Presidential candidacy.

The President said the planned constitutional change would be an unprecedented step in Egypt's modern political history, as it would enable any person finding themselves fit for public office to enter the presidential race.

According to the current constitution, Egyptian Presidents are named by the Lower House, the People's Assembly. The name of the candidate selected is put to the public for validation in a referendum every six years.

Meantime, The Shura Council held a special session to discuss President Hosni Mubarak's request to amend Article 76 of the Egyptian Constitution pertaining to the way a President of the republic is being selected.

Addressing the council, Shura Council Speaker Safwat El Sherif said the council was convened in accordance with Article 68 of the council statute in view of the importance of Mubarak's call to amend an article of the constitution.

The council was scheduled to tackle the new taxes law before a call by President Mubarak to the People's Assembly and the Shura Council to amend Article 76 of the constitution at a popular rally at University of Menoufiya conference centre.

According to Article 76 of the Egyptian Constitution, the People's Assembly nominates a president and the nomination is afterwards presented to the citizens in a public referendum.

The nomination takes place upon proposals of at least one- third of MPs. A candidate who secures the two-third majority in parliament is then balloted in a yes-or-no referendum.

If a candidate did not obtain the required majority, he would be re- nominated two days later.

A candidate who garners absolute majority of the members of parliament goes through a popular referendum.

He becomes a President of the Republic by getting absolute majority.

If a candidate did not obtain that majority, the People's Assembly would nominate another and re-apply the same procedures.

Previous Stories:
  Hamas delegation to take in Cairo dialogue   (2/26/2005)
  Mubarak stresses constitutional amendments, paving way for multi-candidate polls   (2/26/2005)
  A third candidate for the Egyptian presidency against Mubarak   (2/19/2005)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search