The military-backed government portrayed a two-day referendum to amend the constitution that ended on Wednesday as an endorsement of its legitimacy. The draft constitution is expected to be approved following a well-financed “yes” campaign promoted by the government, businessmen and liberal political parties. Ehab Badawy, the spokesman for the interim president, Adly Mansour, wrote in an email Wednesday that millions had voted to demonstrate their “belief in democracy.” The referendum was boycotted by the Muslim Brotherhood, whose leaders were arrested after the July ouster of their leader, Islamist President Mohammed Morsi.
The boycott was also observed by many of the groups whose revolt unseated President Hosni Mubarak, who ruled Egypt for nearly 30 years.
Egypt’s state newspaper, Al Ahram, said that 28% of eligible voters had cast ballots on Tuesday. It gave no figures for Wednesday’s turnout.
Egyptian voters went to the polls in the final day of voting on a new draft constitution, the country’s second in just over a year. Voting on Tuesday was marred by violence. Via The Foreign Bureau, WSJ’s global news update. Photo: AP
The second day of voting was relatively calm and trouble-free after outbursts of violence and clashes with Islamists left at least 11 people dead the first day of balloting.
The result of the vote is scheduled to be announced on Saturday. Presidential and parliamentary elections are to be held only after a new constitution is ratified.
Full Article: Egypt’s Regime Claims Legitimacy on Vote – WSJ.com.
