Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak revealed today (Tuesday) a list of suggestions for constitutional amendments.
Opposition movements have already begun attacking the president for a set of terror-related amendments, which, according to them, would harm the freedom of Egypt’s citizens.
One of the suggested amendments would, according to the opposition daily Al-Wafd, give police more authority. For example, the police would be able to detain citizens without a court order for longer periods, and to broaden their surveillance activities, which include tapping phones, without approval from a judge.
Al-Wafd also expressed fear that stronger restrictions would infringe on the work of the media.
"All of this would mean that the State of Emergency would become part of the constitution, thus be made permanent rather than temporary," Al-Wafd concluded.
Indeed, one of the major changes in the constitution would involve the cancellation of the State of Emergency, which existed since 1982. The cancellation of the SoE was one of the main demands presented by opposition groups in the past few years.
The president also announced that religious parties would not be able to run for parliament. This hitherto de-facto situation would become part of the constitution if the president’s suggestions are accepted. Mubarak did not suggest placing limits on the president’s term in office. Thus far, a new president has come to power only after the previous one has died.