Brothers and Sisters

I am speaking to you at a crucial moment in the history of our nation, and an historic turning point in our people’s struggle for a constitution.

The people hold high this banner of this march and have struggled for two centuries to affirm their will and their sovereignty as the sources of legitimacy and authority.

Egypt will witness in a few hours a momentous event in its history when the people participate in a referendum to amend 34 articles of the constitution.

These constitutional amendments are a historic step that will change the face of political life in Egypt, and open new doors to our democracy and provide wide horizons for our partisan and parliamentary life while maintaining the security of the nation, the cohesion of society and the unity of the people.

I made a commitment to the people to [initiate] constitutional reforms, the broadlines of which were presented in my presidential election platform, and I have presented proposals to parliament in fulfillment of that commitment.

Our representative councils approved these amendments last week after lengthy debate that lasted 20 months within and outside of parliament in which the people’s representatives, intellectuals, writers, party members and civil society notables participated.

This dialogue between the majority and the opposition and between different perspectives reflected the new and growing vitality that our society is witnessing and the wide areas of freedom of opinion and of expression.

Brothers and Sisters,
People of Egypt

These amendments reflect the political, economic and social transformation that our society is witnessing and strengthening the sovereignty of the people as the source of legitimacy and authority.

[They will] entrench the concept of citizenship, its values and principles, and affirms the equality of all Egyptians before the law in terms of rights, freedoms, and participation in society.

[They will] strike a balance between authorities and strengthen the role of parliament in its mandate to monitor the performance of the President and the Government.

[The will] end the trade in religion and political activity outside [the boundries] of legitimacy, [while] protecting the nation from the threats of terrorism. Brothers and Sisters,

On the eve of the referendum to amend Article 76 of the constitution two years ago, I called on you to participate actively by casting your ballots on that amendment.

Amending that article granted the opportunity for the first competitive presidential elections in our history, and gave our political life a momentum, vitality and new atmosphere whose impact continues to this day. [It] opened new doors to broader constitutional reforms that will be put before you in a referendum in a few hours.

This referendum is a referendum on the future of our nation and will affect its progress for decades to come.

Fateful transformations in the histories of nations are created by the free will of the people, and I as President of the Republic, and a son of the people, call on you today to make known your will and participate in defining the future. The people shall have the first and last word in tomorrow’s referendum, for they are the criterion and the judge.