Political Reform

The War of Attrition for a Yes Vote

By Mohamed El Dahshan

In the middle of a relentless state campaign pushing for a ‘Yes’ vote on the new constitution put forward in a national referendum today and tomorrow, it is clear that the state has all but given up any pretenses of a democratic process.

Egypt’s Constitutional Referendum [Liveblog January 14]

By EgyptSource

With polling stations opening across Egypt and voting underway in the constitutional referendum, keep up with live updates on EgyptSource here.

Egyptians, Divided Again, Vote on a Constitution

By New Atlanticist

Millions of Egyptians voted this week on a new constitution, a referendum that may help decide whether the country of 80 million people – for centuries a fulcrum of the Arab world – might return soon to a semblance of political stability. Several parties boycotted the poll, the first nationwide vote of any kind since the […]

Egypt’s Draft Constitution and Referendum: Useful Links

By EgyptSource

As Egypt’s expatriate community has completed voting, with a 15 percent voter turnout, and a 97.4 percent approval rate, and the country’s governorates gear up for a two-day referendum on the 2013 draft constitution on January 14 and 15, below are useful links to get up to speed on the text of the constitution and […]

Key Questions on Egypt’s Upcoming Referendum [Update]

As Egypt prepares to go to the polls once again, voting for a second constitution in the span of three years, following are key updates on the referendum taking place on January 14 and 15: 

The New Draft Constitution Part III: A Reactive Constitution

By Yussef Auf

Despite an increasingly volatile security situation and political climate, Egyptians are heading to the polls for the third time in less than three years to cast their votes on a new constitution. Given the state of the country however, the referendum will hardly be an accurate reflection of the text of the constitution itself. However, […]

The Half-Full Cup of Egypt’s New Constitution

By Tamer Nagy Mahmoud

Within days, Egyptians are going to vote in a public referendum on an amended proposed constitution, the nation’s second in two years. The proposed document includes a number of significant improvements as compared to the now-suspended 2012 constitution. 

The Quest for Minority Rights in Egypt

By Jayson Casper

Coptic Christians have reason to celebrate… alone. While they and many others rejoice at the removal of the overall Islamist tinge of the 2012 constitution, this largely liberal-produced draft leaves other religious minorities out in the cold. 

The New Draft Constitution Part II: The Committee’s Work from Within

By Yussef Auf

As Egypt’s constitution writing process has come to an end, and the country is once again gearing up to go to the polls in mid-January in a nationwide referendum, it is worth noting the process that resulted in the drafting of a new constitution, before considering the text itself. The Committee of 50’s performance, as […]