The sweeping changes must still be put to a popular referendum to take effect, but they appear to address many of the demands of protesters who led the 18-day uprising that forced Mubarak to step down on Feb. 11 after more than 30 years in power. The military council has since been running Egypt’s affairs.
The legal panel was appointed last week to suggest constitutional amendments that would pave the way for democratic elections this year. The Armed Forces Council has said the military wants to hand power over to a new government with an elected president within six months.
But the protest movement has been growing impatient, and tens of thousands rallied in Cairo’s Tahrir Square on Friday to keep up the pressure on the military. In particular, protest leaders are demanding the dismissal of Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, a Mubarak appointee. They are also calling for a more active civilian role in the decisions made by the council.
In all, the panel suggested 10 amendments to the constitution.
They included allowing for full judicial supervision of the electoral process, starting with preparing rosters, to declaring results — which practically denies the police ministry oversight. That would address regular criticism that past elections were rigged, ensuring Mubarak’s ruling party retained its grip on power.
In what would mark a major change in who can run for president, the panel suggested lifting restrictions on who can run, opening the door for independents and small opposition groups to field a candidate.
It said candidates are eligible to run if they can collect 30,000 signatures from different provinces in Egypt; or if they can get recommendations from 30 members of Parliament; or if their party has at least one seat in Parliament. Previously, Mubarak’s ruling party had control over who could run.
Yemen
Yemen’s embattled president suffered back-to-back blows yesterday: Hundreds of thousands called for his ouster in the largest antigovernment rallies yet, and two powerful chiefs from his own tribe abandoned him.
The huge turnout across Yemen and the defections were the latest signs that President Ali Abdullah Saleh may be losing his grip on the impoverished, conflict-ridden country.
