In an article in The New York Times, an Egyptian writer called for filing lawsuits against the constitutional amendments to be presented to Parliament and then the Egyptian people's referendum on them, saying it would make the opposition active in defending rights and possibly make Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi retreat.
In her article, Egyptian writer and novelist Yasmin al-Rashidi highlighted the tensions that dominate the political situation in Egypt and which could threaten a new revolution, especially after the new constitutional amendments to extend the presidential term.
Al-Rashidi reported that eight years have passed since the Egyptian revolution that toppled the Egyptian "Pharaoh" Hosni Mubarak after his long 30-year rule. Since then, Egyptians have gone to the polls on nine occasions to vote. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was reelected last April, extending his term for another four years, which is supposed to be the last term under the 2014 constitution.
Constitution and Pharaoh
But the new amendments, she says, have caused serious concern among citizens, who have launched large-scale social media campaigns, warning that tampering with the constitution could mean making another Pharaoh. There have been many videos making fun of these changes.
She pointed out the need to review and discuss the amendments and approval by a special committee, and then submitted to the parliament and presented to the Egyptians in a referendum, a process that could be completed by mid-April. But a group of commentators ridiculed this idea of referendum because its outcome was taken away because it would inevitably be manipulated.
Al-Rashidi said that the most prominent question that distinguished personalities, such as the doctors, professors and former MPs I met in Cairo, is whether the Egyptians are really aware of the effects that the changes that they are going to have or do not fully appreciate. In fact, most Egyptians realize that Sisi rule may last for another fifteen years and that they are barely able to support themselves.
Chronic facts of life
The writer said that the difficult realities of daily life occupy the minds of everyone in the streets and neighborhoods of Egypt when they recall the revision of the Constitution because since the election of the Sisi prices have risen steadily, while the value of the Egyptian pound has declined, and the government's austerity measures in exchange for a large loan from the International Monetary Fund I hurt them, and today they want change.
She pointed out that opponents of the government or opponents of the amendments did not make any formal objections or legal, nor an effective "rejection". However, she says that the current situation gives a new opportunity, especially to the opposition parties, to reorient the political path of the country.
She explained that the upcoming referendum is a moment of mobilization on the widespread resentment of the regime, and an opportunity for the left and the Liberals and those with political or economic influence to lead a campaign to vote "No". This is also an opportunity for Sisi to reject the proposed amendments now, or even once they have been drafted, on the grounds that they violate his contract with the people of Egypt.
Al-Rashidi concluded that in 2017, in an interview with CNBC, al-Sisi promised to abide by the principles enshrined in the constitution, particularly the presidential term limits.