Egypt presidential elections scheduled before parliament vote

27 January 2014

Decision overturns original plan to vote on Egyptian parliament ahead of presidency

Egypt’s Interim President Adli Mansour has announced that elections for a new president will be held before the vote on a new parliament.

The decision changes the original plans laid out following the military ousting of former president Mohamed Mursi in July last year. The presidential vote must take place within 90 days of the constituional vote, so is expected to happen before the end of April.

There will heightened speculation as to whether current defence minister and head of the Egyptian army, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will stand for presidency. Despite rumours that he will put his name foward, Sisi has yet to confirm whether or not he will run for the leadership of Egypt.

Egypt held a referendum for the new constitution in mid-January. The constitution was passed with more than 98 per cent approval from voters. The turnout for the vote was relatively low, however, standing at slightly more than 38 per cent.

The constitution vote was boycotted by the Muslim Brotherhood, which remains loyal to former president Mursi and says the new government is “illegitimate”.

The amended constitution has also been attacked for granting too much power to the military by allowing the army final approval over the choice of defence minister.

A total of 49 people were killed in clashes in several Egyptian cities during rallies held on 25 January to mark the third anniversary of the revolution that overturned President Hosni Mubarak.

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