The Legislative Committee in the People's Assembly(PA)chaired by PA Speaker Dr. Ahmad Fathi Souror finalized Tuesday 5/3/2007 the wording of 34 articles of the Constitution. The proposed amendments were worded by a sub-committee formed by the PA chaired by Dr.Amaal Osman and 8 members representing all currents in the PA.

The committee will prepare a report of the final wording of the amendments before being referred to the Shura Council.

The committee's report will be discussed by the Shura Council in an immediate session before re-referring it to the PA for final ratification. A public referendum will be held for the people's say in this respect.

One of the most important amendments introduced by the Legislative Committee is to make the lawmaker abide by setting out the guarantees for the members of the higher committee supervising elections to ensure its independence and impartiality.

The Legislative Committee held a 4-hour meeting on 4/3/2007 in which it ratified 19 articles. Representative of the independents bloc Kamal Ahmed and Chief of Al-Wafd Party and representative of the oppositions parties Mahmoud Abaza rejected the wording of Article 88. They called it a retreat from democracy given that it did not include the judicial supervision over the election. For his part, Kamal el-Shazly said this will be handled in the amendment of the Political Rights Exercise Law and the stipulation will give the lawmaker the right to do so. He added that the large number of the electors in one committee will make casting vote almost impossible.

As to the fears of some members in the PA that Egypt will convert to the capitalist economy, Dr. Sorour said the new stipulation will give the freedom to choose the suitable economic system to help realize the social justice whether the system is socialist or capitalist.