Legal experts commend societal dialogue sessions on constitutional amendments

CAIRO – 30 March 2019: Some legal experts and lawmakers praised the sessions of social dialogues organized by the House of Representatives to discuss the newly-proposed amendments to the 2014 constitution as ‘a good platform’ for freedom of expression.

“All participants –supporters or opponents to the constitutional amendments- in the societal dialogue were given enough spaces to express their opinion freely,” said Salah Fawzy, professor of constitution law told Extra news on Friday.

The societal dialogue sessions, which started last week, are concerned with listening to politicians, political parties, public figures, the civil society, businessmen, and financial and economic institutions to know their opinions on the amendments.

Member of Egypt’s Support Coalition Abdel-Hadi al-Qasabi described the session of societal dialogue that was held on Thursday at the House of Representatives headquarters downtown Cairo as “historic.” He added that opponents to the constitutional amendments voiced their opinion freely.

Abdel Aal swore, during the previous societal dialogue session, that the Egyptian presidency did not interfere by any means in the issue of amending some articles of the 2014 constitution.

As per the constitutional amendments, the presidential term would be extended for 6 years instead of 4 years and heads of the judicial bodies would be appointed by the president.

The proposed amendments also include restoring Shura Council – a senate- to broaden representation at the Parliamentary Councils- after it was dissolved in 2012. The appointment of deputy president is also one of the amendments. Supporting women, Youth, Christian minority, the disabled, and the Egyptian expatriates community by solid constitutional articles are included in the amendments.

One of the amendments stipulates, “The Armed Forces are the guarantor of the democracy and civil state, and the appointment way of defense minister should be reconsidered.”

“A coordination council headed by the president would organize the posts inside all the judicial entities,” another amendment provides.

Although many political experts and politicians said that the new amendments are essential for Egypt’s current development program, many critic voices expressed objection as such amendments contradict with freedom principles.