Vote to extend president’s rule in Egypt ‘marred by illegal bribery’

The referendum approved by Egyptian voters that allows president Abdel-fattah elsissi to extend his rule to 2030 was held in an “unfair and unfree” environment and has “no pretence to legitimacy,” an international rights group said.

Human Rights Watch said the three-day vote on a set of constitutional amendments, which concluded on Monday, was “marred by serious flaws,” including reports of citizens being forced to vote or bribed with food and money. The constitutional amendments are a shameless attempt to entrench the military’s power over civilian rule, and the referendum took place in such an unfree and unfair environment that its results can have no pretence to legitimacy,” Michael Page, the group’s deputy director for the Middle East and North Africa, said in a statement.

Mr Sissi’s “desire to demolish an independent judiciary and secure his autocratic rule for at least 11 more years is recreatingtheimpoverishedand repressive political environment that drove Egyptians to revolt against former president [Hosni] Mubarak in 2011.”

Authorities said the amendments were approved by 88.83 per cent of voters, with turnout of 44.33 per cent. The constitutional amendments extend the presidential term from four years to six years, but include a special clause extending Mr Sissi’s current term to 2024 and allowing him to run for another sixyear term.

The amendments recognise the military as the “guardian and protector” of the Egyptian state and give military courts wider jurisdiction for trying civilians. They will also allow Mr Sissi to appoint top civilian judges.

Mr Sissi led the military overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013 and was elected president the following year. Last year he was re-elected after all potentially serious challengers were arrested or pressured to withdraw from the race.

Authorities have waged an unprecedented crackdown on dissent since 2013, rolling back freedoms gained in the original uprising. Thousands of people have been jailed, including a number of prominent pro-democracy activists. Local media is dominated by pro-government figures, and vaguely written laws prescribe jail time for any perceived criticism of the government or military.

During the three-day referendum, voters were offered free rides or food parcels in exchange for voting, in efforts organised by pro-government businessmen. The Arab League said yesterday that its monitors witnessed similar activities.

At least five people in and around Cairo said they saw police stop microbuses and check that all passengers had red ink on their fingers from voting.