Egypt's ElBaradei warns against constitutional change

<p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei on Thursday warned against changing Egypt’s constitution to allow the extension of presidential terms from four to six years.</p> <p><br></p> <p>He issued the warning two days after a parliamentary committee approved a request to amend Egypt’s national charter, which was adopted following a 2014 referendum.</p> <p><br></p> <p>ElBaradei referred in particular to Article 226 of the constitution, which states: “Texts pertaining to the re-election of the president of the republic or the principles of freedom and equality stipulated in this constitution may not be amended unless the amendment brings more guarantees [of freedoms].&quot;</p> <p><br></p> <p>Speaking via Twitter, ElBaradei said: “You don’t need to study law to realize that trying to amend the text — to extend the length of presidential terms — is a flagrant violation of the constitution.”</p> <p><br></p> <p>On Sunday, the Support Egypt Coalition, the country's largest parliamentary bloc and a staunch supporter of President Abel-Fattah al-Sisi and his regime, lodged a formal request with the assembly to amend the constitution. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The coalition, which holds 317 out of 596 parliamentary seats, wants to amend the charter with a view to extending presidential terms from four to six years; allowing the president to sit for more than two terms; and establishing an upper house of parliament. </p> <p><br></p> <p>Al-Sisi was elected in the same year the current charter was ratified — and one year after leading a bloody military coup against his predecessor, Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first freely elected leader. </p> <p><br></p> <p>In June of last year, al-Sisi was re-elected to a second presidential term, which is set to expire in 2022. </p> <p><br></p> <p>According to the constitution in its current form, al-Sisi cannot run for a third term in office. </p> <p><br></p> <p>The presidency, for its part, has yet to comment on the proposed constitutional adjustments, but al-Sisi has said in previous remarks that he had no intention to run for a third term.</p>