SEE Guide: 7 Principles represented in Constitutional Amendments in Egypt

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, Feb. 5 (SEE) –  Egypt parliament’s general committee held a

meeting Sunday headed by House Speaker, Ali Abdel Aal, to discuss a petition

written by one-fifth of parliament members proposing constitutional amendments.

The amendments come in line with Article

226 of the constitution and Article 140 of parliament’s internal by-laws.

The second meeting in the same regard was

held Tuesday morning. 

Abdel Aal started the meeting by asserting

that the realistic test of some of the current constitution’s articles proved

that the latter require a review, however, this does not reflect a flaw or a

disadvantage, as several regional states are witnessing constitutional changes.

The speaker added that any amendment should

aim building strong, democratic and balanced institutions capable of competent

performance without affecting basic guarantees sponsored by the

constitution. 

Moreover, he discussed the most important Principles the expected amendments are based on, they came as the following according to the general committee’s statement:

Supporting women, Youth, Christian minority, the disabled, and Egyptian expatriate community by solid constitutional articles. 

Re-establish Shura Council – a senate- to broaden representation at the Parliamentary Councils. 

Extending the presidential term to six years instead of four, as the current circumstances have proven the step essential. 

The appointment of vice president. 

Carrying out reforms in the way of choosing heads of judicial entities, attorney-general and chairman of the constitutional court.

A coordination council headed by the president would organize the posts inside all the judicial entities.

The Armed Forces are the guarantor of the democracy and civil state, and the method of appointing defense minister should be reconsidered, according to the proposed amendments.   

The political office of Support Egypt

Coalition announced Saturday that its members submitted a constitution

amendment bill to Egypt’s House Speaker, Ali Abdel Aal, as the majority of the

parliament members have signed the bill. 

The amendments meet 2014 constitution and

boost freedoms proposed by the latter, said the head of Support Egypt Coalition

Abdel Hadi Al Kasabi. 

The constitutional committee of the

parliament affirms the right of the members to amend any of the constitution

articles. Under article 226, either the president or one-fifth of the

parliament members have the right to amend the constitution.