Egyptian parliament approves direct elections for the president

The Egyptian People's Assembly unanimously approved the amendment of article 76 of the constitution providing for electing a president for the country by direct vote between than more than one candidate.

The parliamentarians approved introducing a new article to change the word "referendum" to "election." The Egyptian parliament decided in its Wednesday's session to submit the report of the parliament's general committee on the amendment request to the constitutional and legislative committee to receive proposals on this amendment for one month and prepare a report about it to be debated to the parliament for the last time after two months.

People's Assembly speaker Ahmed Fathi Srour said the selection of the President through election heralds the beginning of a new stage on the path of democracy and deepens the principle that the people are the source of powers.

He said direct balloting is the best way whereby the people practice their sovereignty and the right of elections in conformity with the law and constitution.

He said the amendment of the constitution will deepen the right of the people to elect the president of the republic.

Kamal AL Shazly, the Minister of the People's Assembly Affairs said President Mubarak's initiative is a landmark on the path of reform and an important step in the march of democracy which aims at enhancing the people's sovereignty.

He said that the President had asked for holding the parliamentary body of the National Democratic Party one year ago for declaring his initiative to amend the constitution but then adjourned it until the date of nomination approaches.

People's Assembly members from various political and party affiliations hailed President Mubarak's initiative saying it came in time and was welcomed with massive response.

They asserted that this constitutional amendment would deepen the political participation and achieve stability.

Meantime, Ossama Al Baz, the Political Advisor to the President said the upcoming stage which follows President Mubarak's initiative for amending the constitution requires mobilization of popular and official efforts by parties, legislative councils, the press and university professors for securing the success of this change.

He said change is a continuing process adding Egypt has launched reform in early 1980s adding the amendment of the constitution is 100% Egyptian initiative.

He said the amendment of the constitution as a whole at the present time is not beneficial as it could hurt the interests of the limited income brackets which are given wider interest by the political leaderships.

He said the election of the President through direct and secret balloting have been the point of interest by the political leadership for a long time adding President Mubarak declared his initiative in time.

The amendment came while scores were demonstrating in front the building of the People's Assembly against any attempt to tighten conditions of nomination in the Egyptian presidential elections and demanded lifting of the emergency law.

The demonstrators called for introducing amendments to the constitution so as the presidential term of office to be limited only to two terms, while others described the amendment as aiming to guarantee extending for Mubarak or preparing his son Jamal to succeed him.

Answering a question by youth, Baz said call for cancellation of martial law testifies the stability Egypt is currently enjoying.

He said martial law will not last for ever adding the most difficult equation at the present time is how to reconcile reform, development and stability.