Constitutional Amendments Committee Chairman Tarek al-Bishry on Thursday said that new amendments to Egypt's national charter would guarantee the integrity of the electoral process, both presidential and parliamentary, so as to ensure a proper transition to democracy.
“The committee has not yet determined the exact number of articles that require amendment,” al-Bishry said. “We have agreed to keep our deliberations confidential until we can determine this.”
The Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, which is currently running the nation's affairs for a transitional six-month period following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February, appointed the committee to amend five articles of the constitution and consider the cancellation of a sixth article that restricts civil liberties.
In its first meeting on Wednesday, the committee agreed in principle on the need to amend constitutional articles 76, 77, 88, 93 and 189; cancel Article 179; and modify laws governing political rights, the People's Assembly and the Shura Council (the upper, consultative house of Egypt's parliament).
