The constitutional amendments proposed by President Hosni Mubarak came as a result of the people's demands and expressed the move by the Egyptian society and its desire that articles of the Constitution be in line with the great changes introduced in Egypt, the economic, political and social ones taking into consideration as well world changes. Safwat Al-Sharif, Speaker of the Shura Council, said the legitimacy according to which such amendments be made is represented in the political legitimacy based on the will of the people who endorsed the electoral program of President Mubarak.

That is why those who say that such amendments are not constitutional do not know what they are talking about and do not know the perils such talk might lead to. No doubt, it is the right of all people, regardless of their political affiliations, to discuss the proposed constitutional amendments in order to realize the aspiration of the people.

The constitutional amendments aim at strengthening the role of the parties in the political life, realizing more democracy and freedoms to the citizens and increasing the popular participation in the different political and social activities in Egypt.

Al-Ahram
January 17, 2007