BICOM

The first stage of Egypt’s referendum on its new draft constitution took place on Saturday, with government and opposition forces both claiming to have won the vote.

The draft constitution has proved deeply divisive in Egypt. The document is supposed to provide the cornerstone for a new, democratic Egypt, outlining the powers of the president, parliament, the judiciary and military and setting out the role of Islamic law. Supporters of Mursi, who represents the Muslim Brotherhood, regard it as key to the country’s stability. However, it is bitterly opposed by non-Islamist opposition parties who see it as a power grab. They are concerned about the extent of the power it gives to the President and the opportunity it gives Islamic religious authorities to meddle in the legislative process. There are also concerns about the power the constitution gives the Egyptian military to run its own affairs.

The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political wing of the Muslim Brotherhood claimed that 56 per cent of voters in Saturday’s first stage of the election approved the draft constitution. However, the National Salvation Front (NSF), a loose coalition of liberal, leftist, and nationalist opposition forces, claimed that 66 per cent had voted to reject it. The NSF also reported 750 allegations of voting irregularities, whilst the Egyptian Coalition for Human Rights reported that financial inducements had been offered for casting a ‘yes’ vote. Saturday’s vote attracted a turnout of just 32 per cent. Next Saturday, the referendum will be held in Egypt’s remaining governorates, comprising mainly rural areas, where the electorate is considered conservative and likely to approve the constitution.