Fifth of Egypt’s MPs back bid to amend constitution

More than a fifth of Egyptian MPs have backed a request seeking amendments to the country’s constitution. (AFP)

• Al-Qasabi did not disclose which articles were the subject of proposed amendments
• There have been repeated calls in recent years to amend article 140, which limits the presidential term to four years

CAIRO: More than a fifth of Egyptian MPs have backed a request seeking amendments to the country’s constitution.
Abdul Hadi Al-Qasabi, head of the majority Support Egypt parliamentary bloc, on Friday obtained the signatures of at least a fifth of Egyptian MPs in support of the amendments.
Al-Qasabi did not disclose which articles were the subject of proposed amendments. However, there have been repeated calls in recent years to amend article 140, which limits the presidential term to four years.
Dr. Ali Abdel Aal, the speaker of Egypt’s parliament, called for extraordinary sessions next week beginning on Sunday.
Al-Qasabi will request the amendments next week and has the “required constitutional ratio” to make the request.
MP Mahmoud Badr said on his Facebook page that he and a group of “colleagues” had signed a request to amend some articles of the constitution that will be submitted on Sunday.
Article 226 of the Egyptian constitution states that the president of the republic or a fifth of parliament can request an amendment to an article or articles of the constitution. The amendment is then discussed 30 days from the date of submission.