Parl't speaker turns down suggestion to discuss constitutional amendments with Sisi

CAIRO – 14 February 2019: Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal refused on Feb. 13 a suggestion issued by parliamentarian Mohamed Badrawi, which demanded sending a letter to President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi asking him about his opinion regarding the proposed constitutional amendments.

“These amendments emanated from the Parliament. We suggested these amendments in light of the transitional phase the country is going through,” Abdel Aal said.

He added that the president could have asked for amending the constitution; however, this was not the case. “This is the Parliament's initiative and will remain this way,” Abdel Aal said, refusing the parliamentarian suggestion.

Parliamentarian Badrawi suggested during the general session to discuss the constitution amendments with President Sisi; however, the suggestion was turned down by the Parliament speaker.

Furthermore, Parliament member Iham al-Tamawy said that several articles of 2014’s constitution need to be amended and expressed his support of the amendments. “These amendments guarantee more stability for the state and its institutions. No one can deny that 2014’s constitution includes complex procedures that may turn it into a rigid text,” Tamawy said.

He pointed out the amendments will benefit the political system in Egypt, considering it as a first step towards political reform in the country.