NEWS ANALYSIS
Vote could keep Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in power until 2030
Parliament approved amendments allowing the president to extend his current term by two years and stand for another six-year mandate
Cairo — Egypt’s general-turned-president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi who could stay in power until 2030 is an autocrat for some and symbol of stability for others. The 596-member parliament stacked with Sisi’s supporters on Tuesday approved amendments allowing the president to extend his current term by two years and stand for another six-year mandate. He could as a result remain president until 2030, and has also been granted greater control over the judiciary under the amendments. The amendments are expected to be put to a public referendum later in April. Critics have slammed the amendments as “unconstitutional”. The sweeping constitutional changes in Egypt where demonstrations have effectively been banned under Sisi come as months-long protests in neighbouring Sudan brought down veteran ruler Omar al-Bashir. In Algeria, president Abdelaziz Bouteflika was forced to resign earlier this month after mass protests.
Sisi, as a champion of stability, commands the support of Western powe...
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