There were big turnouts for Egypt’s referendum on constitutional amendments on Saturday March 19, with people queuing sometimes for hours to cast their votes. The vote was heavily — 77 per cent of the votes cast — in favour of the amendments.
But most of the groups involved in the “25 January” revolution which toppled President Hosni Mubarak had called for a “no” vote – demanding instead that the entire constitution be scrapped and a new one drawn up by a Constituent Assembly.
The Muslim Brotherhood called, however, for a “yes” vote. Conservative Muslim leaders have told voters that it is their religious duty to support the amendments (and reject a “no” vote), on the grounds that the existing constitution recognises Islam as the country’s official religion.
The Centre for Trade Union and Workers’ Services, issued this press release:
“CTUWS is calling for Egyptian workers to reject the proposed constitutional amendments and to demand a new constitution that lays the foundations for a new Egypt.
“Since the outbreak of the revolution for freedom and justice, the Egyptian workers played a remarkable role in the massive demonstrations which took place in industrial cities calling to topple the regime. Then came the workers strikes of 9 and 10 February as the death blow which finished Mubarak’s authority.
“The Egyptians are invited today to support the powers of the revolution, refuse the constitution amendments and call for a new constitution which establishes new Egypt, freedom and equality.”
(See the full statement here: bit.ly/gQhMNO)
The constitutional amendments in the referendum deal with elections and the powers of the presidency. The current constitution, which was amended in early 2007, was heavily skewed in favour of Mubarak and his National Democratic Party. The vote was for the acceptance or rejection of all of them, as a bloc.
