BICOM

Following Saturday’s second phase of voting in Egypt’s referendum on the country’s draft constitution, the ruling Muslim Brotherhood has claimed a decisive victory in approving the document while the opposition coalition has indicated that it will challenge the legality of the result.

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. Supporters of President 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.

The state-owned Ahram website yesterday claimed that during two rounds of voting, 64 per cent of the electorate approved the constitution. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party released a statement yesterday claiming victory saying, “The Egyptian people continued the march towards completion of their modern democratic state, having irrevocably turned the dark pages of past injustice and oppression.”

However, a spokesman for the opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front (NSF) said that the vote was marred by “fraud and violations” and that they would demand an investigation. Opposition leaders added that the low turnout of 30 per cent casts doubt over the strength of public support for the constitution. An NSF statement indicated that the referendum would not end Egypt’s societal divisions, saying, “The referendum is not the end game. It is only a battle in this long struggle for the future of Egypt.”