This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/26/mohamed-morsi-egypt-constitution-law
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Mohamed Morsi signs Egypt's new constitution into law | Mohamed Morsi signs Egypt's new constitution into law |
| (4 months later) | |
| Egypt's controversial new constitution has been signed into law by President Mohammed Morsi, a day after he announced it had been approved by a large majority in a referendum that his opponents claim was marked by widespread irregularities. | Egypt's controversial new constitution has been signed into law by President Mohammed Morsi, a day after he announced it had been approved by a large majority in a referendum that his opponents claim was marked by widespread irregularities. |
| Critics say the new constitution, which was hurriedly drafted by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and its Salafist allies, is undemocratic and too Islamist, and that it could allow clerics to intervene in the lawmaking process and leave minority groups without proper legal protection. | Critics say the new constitution, which was hurriedly drafted by Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and its Salafist allies, is undemocratic and too Islamist, and that it could allow clerics to intervene in the lawmaking process and leave minority groups without proper legal protection. |
| Results of the two-part referendum, announced on Tuesday, showed that an overwhelming 63.8% of Egyptians had approved the text, paving the way for a parliamentary elections in about two months. | Results of the two-part referendum, announced on Tuesday, showed that an overwhelming 63.8% of Egyptians had approved the text, paving the way for a parliamentary elections in about two months. |
| The result is the Islamists' third straight electoral victory since the country's former autocratic leader, Hosni Mubarak, was toppled last year. | The result is the Islamists' third straight electoral victory since the country's former autocratic leader, Hosni Mubarak, was toppled last year. |
| The referendum passed, however, on a low turnout of 32.9% of Egypt's 52 million eligible voters, amid allegations – rejected by Morsi's supporters – that "fake judges" had supervised some of the polling. | The referendum passed, however, on a low turnout of 32.9% of Egypt's 52 million eligible voters, amid allegations – rejected by Morsi's supporters – that "fake judges" had supervised some of the polling. |
| In a news conference on Tuesday night, Sami Abu al-Maati, the head of the country's electoral commission, rejected claims by the largely secular opposition that the vote had been rigged. | In a news conference on Tuesday night, Sami Abu al-Maati, the head of the country's electoral commission, rejected claims by the largely secular opposition that the vote had been rigged. |
| According to a spokesman for Egypt's presidency, Morsi signed the decree, making the constitution legally binding late on Tuesday night. | According to a spokesman for Egypt's presidency, Morsi signed the decree, making the constitution legally binding late on Tuesday night. |
| In his first address to the nation of 84 million since the adoption of the new constitution, Morsi said it was time for all political forces to put aside their differences and start working together to bring stability. "We don't want to return to an era of one opinion and fake, manufactured majorities. The maturity and consciousness (of voters) heralds that Egypt has set on a path of democracy with no return," Morsi said. | In his first address to the nation of 84 million since the adoption of the new constitution, Morsi said it was time for all political forces to put aside their differences and start working together to bring stability. "We don't want to return to an era of one opinion and fake, manufactured majorities. The maturity and consciousness (of voters) heralds that Egypt has set on a path of democracy with no return," Morsi said. |
| "Regardless of the results, for the sake of building the nation, efforts must unite. There is no alternative to a dialogue that is now a necessity. | "Regardless of the results, for the sake of building the nation, efforts must unite. There is no alternative to a dialogue that is now a necessity. |
| "I will make all efforts, together with you, to push forward the economy, which faces huge challenges and has great opportunities to grow," he said in a televised speech. | "I will make all efforts, together with you, to push forward the economy, which faces huge challenges and has great opportunities to grow," he said in a televised speech. |
| "The coming days will witness, God willing, the launch of new projects ... and a package of incentives for investors to support the Egyptian market and the economy." | "The coming days will witness, God willing, the launch of new projects ... and a package of incentives for investors to support the Egyptian market and the economy." |
| Morsi acknowledged the "respectable" proportion that voted against the constitution, but gave no nod to the concerns opponents have over the charter. | Morsi acknowledged the "respectable" proportion that voted against the constitution, but gave no nod to the concerns opponents have over the charter. |
| His implicit message to those who complain that the Muslim Brotherhood, from which he hails, is dominating government was that he could be trusted and that in the end, voters can remove them. | His implicit message to those who complain that the Muslim Brotherhood, from which he hails, is dominating government was that he could be trusted and that in the end, voters can remove them. |
| "God only knows I make no decision except for God, and for the interest of the nation," Morsi said. "As you know, I am not a lover of authority or someone who is keen to monopolise power. Power is with the people." | "God only knows I make no decision except for God, and for the interest of the nation," Morsi said. "As you know, I am not a lover of authority or someone who is keen to monopolise power. Power is with the people." |
| Although the new legal framework was supposed to be the cornerstone of the country's transition to democracy, its drafting has been deeply divisive. A number of key groups, including Coptic Christians and secular liberals, withdrew from the drafting process, saying it had been hijacked by the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies. | Although the new legal framework was supposed to be the cornerstone of the country's transition to democracy, its drafting has been deeply divisive. A number of key groups, including Coptic Christians and secular liberals, withdrew from the drafting process, saying it had been hijacked by the Muslim Brotherhood and its allies. |
| For his part, Morsi has tried to argue that adopting the text quickly was crucial to ending a protracted period of turmoil and uncertainty in Egypt that had badly damaged the country's economy. | For his part, Morsi has tried to argue that adopting the text quickly was crucial to ending a protracted period of turmoil and uncertainty in Egypt that had badly damaged the country's economy. |
| Hours before the referendum result was announced, the authorities imposed a ban on travelling in or out of the country with more than $10,000 (£6,200) in foreign currency, a move apparently intended to halt capital flight. | Hours before the referendum result was announced, the authorities imposed a ban on travelling in or out of the country with more than $10,000 (£6,200) in foreign currency, a move apparently intended to halt capital flight. |
| The rules were introduced after some Egyptians began withdrawing their savings from banks in fear of tougher currency restrictions. | The rules were introduced after some Egyptians began withdrawing their savings from banks in fear of tougher currency restrictions. |
| After the announcement that the new constitution had been signed into law, Morsi moved quickly to swear in new members of the country's shura council – the upper house of parliament – which he protected from dissolution by decree last month. | After the announcement that the new constitution had been signed into law, Morsi moved quickly to swear in new members of the country's shura council – the upper house of parliament – which he protected from dissolution by decree last month. |
| The council currently includes 270 members, 90 of whom were appointed by Morsi on Monday, and will have legislative authority until a new lower house of parliament is elected. | The council currently includes 270 members, 90 of whom were appointed by Morsi on Monday, and will have legislative authority until a new lower house of parliament is elected. |
| The Islamist-dominated council is expected to draft a law regulating the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Other items on the agenda may include laws on protests and the media. Top of the agenda, however, will be the country's economic woes. | The Islamist-dominated council is expected to draft a law regulating the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Other items on the agenda may include laws on protests and the media. Top of the agenda, however, will be the country's economic woes. |
| The government has begun a series of meetings with business people, trade unions, non-governmental organisations and other groups to convince them of the need for tax increases and spending cuts to resolve the financial crisis. | The government has begun a series of meetings with business people, trade unions, non-governmental organisations and other groups to convince them of the need for tax increases and spending cuts to resolve the financial crisis. |
| "The government calls on the people not to worry about the country's economy," the parliamentary affairs minister, Mohamed Mahsoub, said in a speech to the council. | "The government calls on the people not to worry about the country's economy," the parliamentary affairs minister, Mohamed Mahsoub, said in a speech to the council. |
| "We are not facing an economic problem but a political one, and it is affecting the economic situation. We therefore urge all groups, opponents and brothers, to achieve wide reconciliation and consensus." | "We are not facing an economic problem but a political one, and it is affecting the economic situation. We therefore urge all groups, opponents and brothers, to achieve wide reconciliation and consensus." |
| Morsi will address the council on Saturday in a speech that is likely to be dominated by economic policy. | Morsi will address the council on Saturday in a speech that is likely to be dominated by economic policy. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |