Legal amendments ensure workers, farmers to be represented in Parl't

CAIRO - 7 February 2019: Numerous amendments have been approved by the Egyptian Parliament's general committee including extending presidential term and offering women, Christians, farmers, workers, youths, expats, and the disabled more empowerment.

In case the Parliament gave a final approval on the amendments, they will be put to a public referendum, where they will arguably have a great chance to be agreed on, as these mentioned segments represent a considerable part of Egypt's almost 60 million registered voters.

These segments were given a firm guarantee to get represented only in the 2015 Parliament through articles 243 and 244 of the 2014 constitution. However, the constitution does not state a fixed quota for any of these segments concerning Parliament.
On the other hand, the amendments guarantee at least 50 percent quota for farmers and workers in the local councils, 25 percent for women, and "suitable representation" for Christians and the disabled.

The 2012 constitution, which was signed into law by Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated former President Mohamed Morsi, gave farmers and workers a guarantee to represent at least 50 percent of the Parliament members. This percentage was cancelled by the new constitution.

Although the new amendments did not offer fixed quota for most of the segments, the amendments offer women 25 percent of the parliamentary seats by the power of law, and guarantee continuous representation of these segments, including farmers and workers in later parliaments.

The number of Egyptian farmers reportedly amount to over 50 million citizens.