Egypt’s Constitutional referendum will be held on 14-15 January 2014

Adly Mansour, Egypt's interim President
(Image: Cairo Scene)

Egypt’s interim President Adly Mansour has announced the date of national referendum on the new draft of amended 2012 Constitution.

During his official ceremony speech at the Presidential palace on Saturday, Adly Mansour declared that the national Constitutional referendum will held on 14-15 January 2012. Referendum is expected to be held in one stage with the polls’ station open from 9 a.m. till 9 p.m. and under the supervision of lawyers and representatives of political parties and NGOs authorized for it.

Adly Mansour has called on all Egyptian citizens to come on the referendum and to support Egypt’s new Constitution in order to continue the process of building a democratic country in Egypt and to support political roadmap imposed after ouster of Islamists’ backed President Mohamed Morsy. Mr. Mansour also called on Islamists’ and Muslim Brotherhood’s supporters to stop their fight and their “stubbornness” and to join the process of rebuilding the country.

The finalized draft of amended Constitution was submitted by the members of special Constitutional Committee to the interim President on 3 December. According to the political roadmap, the dates for the national referendum on the new Constitution should be set after President will approve the draft of the Constitution. If the Constitution will be approved by the Referendum, the next step will be holding parliamentary and presidential elections in the country.

Head of the Constitutional Committee Amr Mousa stated during his speech on the ceremony that the current draft of Constitution is a very balanced document and it provides freedoms, rights and separation of powers and criminalizes any oppression and inequality.

Many Egyptian high officials have attended the ceremony, including Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblway, Head of Egypt’s Armed Forces Abdel Fattah El-Sissi, Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayeb, head of Coptic Orthodox Church representing Pope Tawadros II, Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim and many others.