Egypt to hold constitutional referendum on Saturday

By Mohamed al-Rayes</p> <p>CAIRO (AA) – Egypt on Saturday will hold a referendum on a proposed constitutional change that would — if approved — allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to remain in power for 11 more years.</p> <p>At a Wednesday news conference, Lashin Ibrahim, head of Egypt’s State Information Service (SIS), said the poll would be conducted over a three-day period, starting Saturday.</p> <p>On Friday, expatriates will be allowed to cast ballots at Egyptian embassies abroad, Ibrahim said.</p> <p>Earlier this week, Egypt’s parliament approved a proposed constitutional amendment extending the duration of presidential terms from four to six years.</p> <p>It will also allow al-Sisi to eventually run for a third term in office.</p> <p>Egypt’s current constitution, ratified in 2014, allows the president to hold office for a maximum of two four-year terms.</p> <p>The constitutional change, however, means al-Sisi’s second term in office — which he secured in elections last year — will end in 2024, after which he will be allowed to run for a third six-year term ending in 2030.

* Writing by Mahmoud Barakat

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