BICOM

Egyptians will today take to the polls in a referendum on the country’s new constitution. It is Egypt’s first vote since the country’s military ousted Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood in July.

The new charter replaces the controversial constitution passed under Morsi’s rule, which triggered mass protests against what was viewed by many as an Islamist power grab. The proposed new constitution would appear to strengthen state institutions such as the judiciary, police and particularly the military.

Since Morsi’s overthrow, Egypt’s military has arrested most of the Muslim Brotherhood leadership including Morsi and has declared the organisation a terrorist group. Security forces have clashed regularly with protestors in Cairo and elsewhere in recent months. The BBC reports that 200,000 police officers are being deployed during polling. Approval of the constitution appears a formality, with very little exposure for the ‘No’ campaign. However, turnout may be low with Muslim Brotherhood supporters likely to boycott the vote. The Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists commented, “The referendum campaign has taken place within a context of fear… calling into question the fairness of the entire process.”

Constitutional approval is expected to pave the way for a Presidential election as early as April and a subsequent parliamentary poll. Egypt’s military ruler, General al-Sisi is thought to view today’s referendum as a poll on his potential Presidential candidacy. According to the Guardian, General Sisi said “If I run for the presidency it must be by the request of the people.”

Israeli leaders will be closely monitoring developments. Since the fall of Morsi, Islamist groups in the Sinai region bordering Israel have launched deadly attacks on Egyptian military targets with some regularity. Egyptian authorities have blamed Hamas for aiding the attacks from the Gaza Strip and have destroyed numerous smuggling tunnels from Gaza into Egypt. The violence in Sinai has also directly threatened Israel, with two Grad rockets fired from Sinai at the southern Israeli resort city of Eilat in April.