The Egyptians, regardless of their political affiliations, will cast vote today in the referendum on the constitutional amendments. The people will decide the march of the nation and the destiny of the homeland in the future. The constitutional amendments serve as a historic step to be followed by other steps aimed at deepening democracy and realizing political and economic reform. In fact, the popular participation is the only means toward providing freedom and social justice for all citizens.

The differences over two of the proposed 34 articles unveil the political vivaacity which our citizens enjoy. Yet, the essence of democracy confirms the necessity of respecting the opinion of the majority in the parliament which ratified the amendments. It is the right of the opposition, however, to express opinion by adopting serious dialogue and not by calling for boycotting the referendum.

Al Ahram