The minister of justice has appointed judges to investigate all reported violations during the first round of the referendum on the constitution.
GOVERNMENT & OPPOSITION
Opposition to protest referendum at Tahrir, presidential palace
Opposition movements will protest in Tahrir Square and in front of Ettehadiya Palace Tuesday, against what they allege were vote rigging attempts during the first round of the constitution referendum. The National Salvation Front, the main political opposition to President Mohamed Morsi and one of the main campaigners for a “no” vote on the constitution, called for nationwide protests Tuesday demanding a redo of the first round of voting, while also denouncing electoral fraud and calling for the constitution to be scrapped altogether. [Egypt Independent, EGYNews (Arabic), Ahram (Arabic), 12/18/2012]
Egypt (Masr) Party Headed by Amr Khaled Calls for a No Vote
The Egypt (Masr) Party, headed by Dr. Amr Khaled, is continuing its campaign for a ‘No’ vote in Egypt’s referendum. Speaking about the reasons for rejecting the draft constitution, Khaled stated that the draft is not a product of national, political or religious consensus. He also specifically referred to Article 219, saying that it narrows the scope of the application of Article 2 on the principles of Sharia. [EGYNews (Arabic), 12/18/2012]
Names of presidential appointees to Shura Council to be announced next Friday
A representative of the political forces that participated in the national dialogue sessions, called by the office of the executive which has postponed its fourth meeting to Wednesday, revealed that President Mohamed Morsi will announce the names of 90 appointees to the Shura Council before the hours of a second phase of the referendum on the constitution scheduled for next Saturday. The source, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that “the participants in the national dialogue sessions prepared a list,“ stressing that “the President alone will choose the 90 members and will announce their names on Friday at the latest.” [Shorouk (Arabic), 12/18/2012]
COURTS & CONSTITUTION
Egypt State Council judges club to boycott charter poll’s second phase
Members of the higher council of the Egyptian State Council’s judges club will not supervise the upcoming second phase of Egypt’s constitutional referendum, club head Hamdi Yassin stated on Monday evening. Yassin said the decision was due to "unfulfilled promises" on the part of official entities that had been agreed upon before the referendum. “The Supreme Constitutional Court is still besieged before the eyes of the security services without interference,” Yassin said. “Also, judges supervising the referendum did not get the life insurance that the president promised.” [Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, DNE, 12/17/2012]
Judiciary to investigate referendum violations
The minister of justice has appointed judges to investigate all reported violations during the first round of the referendum on the constitution. The assistant justice minister and head of the ministry’s referendum monitoring operation room, Hesham Raouf, said in a Tuesday press conference that Minister Ahmed Mekki had delegated several judges to investigate referendum violations. Counselor Mohamed al-Tambouly of the High Elections Commission said the complaints submitted included allegations of collective voting, pressuring voters and delays in opening polling stations.For complaints received about the absence of some judges in a number of committees, he said that this matter is fabricated. [DNE, AP, SIS, EGYNews (Arabic), 12/18/2012]
Egyptian expats in North Africa, Western countries reject constitution
According to official figures announced so far, 75 percent of expatriate Egyptians residing in Western and non-Gulf Arab countries have rejected the constitution. However, this result may be largely offset by expat Egyptian voting in Gulf Arab countries, where many commentators project an overwhelming “yes” vote. So far, 21 Egyptian embassies and consulates around the world have completed their vote-counting. According to statistics compiled by Egypt Independent, 64,773 expatriate Egyptians have voted in the referendum, of whom 45,355, or 70 percent, voted in favor of the constitution and 18,923, or 30 percent, voted against it. [Egypt Independent, DNE, Ahram (Arabic),12/18/2012]
Salafi Jihadi movement hopes to sway Islamists to reject constitution
Salafi Jihadi leaders have rejected the draft constitution for not applying Sharia forcefully enough. They plan to continue meeting with the Muslim Brotherhood and other Salafi movements to attempt to convince them to vote “no” in the second phase of the constitutional referendum, and demand a new draft constitution that would be based more strictly on Sharia, the group said. “The draft says the people are the authority, not God,” said Salafi Jihadi leader Mohamed al-Zawahiri, the brother of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri. “This makes us infidels.” [Egypt Independent, 12/17/2012]
Also of Interest
Constitutional Court head slams Morsi’s statement to foreign media, says punishable by law, presidential spokesman denies statements | Ahram Online, DNE, SIS, Shorouk (Arabic)
Zend: President can’t order judges to return to work | Egypt Independent
Referendum will be binding regardless of margin | DNE
Egypt’s prosecutor-general awaits acceptance of resignation, SJC to decide on it on Sunday | Ahram Online, Egypt Independent, SIS
Judicial source: Al-Balshi did not resign, overseeing the second phase of the referendum | Shorouk (Arabic)
ECONOMY
US urges Egypt, IMF to ‘quickly’ reach loan deal
The United States urged Egypt and International Monetary Fund to reach an agreement on the $4.8 billion loan that was postponed on 11 December "as quickly as possible." In an exclusive statement to Ahram Online, a Department of State (DOS) spokesman confirmed: "We understand that the government of Egypt and the IMF are in close contact regarding the resumption of discussions on a Stand-by Arrangement." [Ahram Online, 12/18/2012]
Egypt Seeks $1.7 Billion in Debt Sales as Charter Vote Advances
Egypt plans to raise 10.5 billion Egyptian pounds ($1.7 billion) over the next week from Treasury bill sales as it prepares for the second round of a referendum on a new constitution. The Arab world’s most populous nation is seeking 2.5 billion pounds in six-month notes and 3.5 billion pounds in one- year notes on Dec. 20. It also plans to raise 1 billion in three-month notes and 3.5 billion in nine-month debt on Dec. 23. [Bloomberg, 12/18/2012]
Also of Interest
UAE’s ENBD frontrunner to buy BNP Paribas Egypt retail arm-sources | Ahram Online
Carrefour’s acquisition of Metro smacks of monopoly | DNE
SOCIETY & MEDIA
Islamists to rally in Alexandria on Friday
A number of Islamist groups are calling for a rally "to defend scholars and mosques" in front of the Qaed Ibrahim mosque in Alexandria on Friday. The protest comes after Sheikh Ahmed El-Mahalawy was trapped inside the mosque for 14 hours on Friday by protesters angry at his sermon calling for a ‘Yes’ vote in the constitutional referendum. [Ahram Online, 12/18/2012]
12 December declared Press Freedom Day
Expressing solidarity with the late journalist Al-Hosseini Abu Deif, the press syndicate announced the day he died, 12 December, as “Press Freedom Day.” Abu Deif was killed during the deadly clashes which took place at the Presidential Palace almost two weeks ago between pro and anti-Morsi demonstrators. Abu Deif’s friends and family insist he was assassinated for taking photos which show Muslim Brotherhood supporters beating anti-Morsi protesters. [DNE, 12/17/2012]
Also of Interest:
Eastern Tobacco workers strike for higher wages, profit share | Ahram Online
SECURITY & SINAI
Sisi: Armed Forces took part in securing voting stations
General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Minister of Defense and Military Production said on Monday 17/12/2012 that the role played by the Armed Forces in securing the referendum on the constitution has written a new history of the relationship between the people and their army, indicating that the people went down to street to take part in voting after making sure that the army is safeguarding voting stations. [SIS, 12/18/2012]
REGIONAL & INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Emirati FM denounces allegations of plot against Morsi
The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan has rejected claims by Muslim Brotherhood members that his country is plotting Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi’s overthrow. Emirati news agency WAM reported that Zayed met with Egyptian ambassador to the UAE Tamer Mansour and raised concerns about "fabricated remarks broadcast recently by some media in Egypt involving accusations against the UAE, including the allegation that it was engaged in plots against the Egyptian leadership." [Egypt Independent, Reuters, 12/18/2012]
Germany postpones €240 million in debt relief for Egypt
Germany has cancelled talks on development cooperation with Egypt and postponed debt relief that could amount to €240 million. In an interview with German newspaper Berlin Zeitung on Monday, German Minister of Development Dirk Niebel said that he is concerned over the status of the democratic transition in Egypt, saying “there is a risk that the dictatorial system of the deposed President [Hosni] Mubarak is revived, only this time with other people.” [DNE, 12/17/2012]
Also of Interest
Morsi calls to end bloodshed in Syria | SIS
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