Egypt Overhauls Constitution, Empowers Military

[Comrade Grumpy]

Source: Associated Press

CAIRO (AP) — Extensive amendments of the constitution adopted under Egypt's ousted Islamist president give the military more privileges, enshrining its place as the nation's most powerful institution and the source of real power, while removing parts that liberals feared set the stage for the creation of an Islamic state.

The new draft constitution is a key first step in implementing a political transition laid down by the military after it removed Mohammed Morsi from power. A 50 member panel declared the draft finished Monday, paving the way for a nationwide referendum within 30 days to ratify the document.

The military-backed government has heralded the draft charter as a step toward democracy — seeking to prove the credentials of the post-Morsi system amid continuing protests by Islamists furious over the coup against the country's first freely elected president.

The amended document enshrines personal and political rights in stronger language than past constitutions. But rights experts express fears that the political power carved out for the military could leave those rights irrelevant.

One key clause states that for the next two presidential terms, the armed forces will enjoy the exclusive right of naming the defense minister, an arrangement that gives the military autonomy above any civilian oversight and leaves the power of the president uncertain. The charter does not say how the post will be filled following that eight-year transitional period.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/12/02/egypt-overhauls-constitution-military/3812457/

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A pretty balanced overview of the situation and worth reading to the end.

Some nice stuff about rights, but the military seems to reserve a lot of power to itself.

And this still has to be approved by a popular referendum. Should be an interesting next month.

[MADem]

2. Al Sisi seems to have studied Kemal Ataturk and used his model to no small extent.

This concept is difficult for westerners to understand, and even more difficult when one considers that this is the "liberal" POV!

[Laelth]

3. k&r for exposure. n/t

-Laelth

[jessie04]

4. And yet...the Morsi supporters continue the Cycle of Violence.

it will never end.

[Comrade Grumpy]

5. What are you talking about? What cycle of violence?

Lately, there have been some protests against the draconian new anti-protest law.

And some young women have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms for peaceful protests.

And the police arrested their lawyer.

And the police arrested some other prominent dissidents.

And the police used tear gas on protesters at Tahrir Square a couple of days ago.

And the police killed a student protesting at Cairo University last week.

Is protesting the coup now "the cycle of violence"? Funny how that works.