First vote of post-Morsi era shows strength of support for direction country has taken since overthrow of president in July

Sunday, January 19, 2014

First vote of post-Morsi era shows strength of support for direction country has taken since overthrow of president in July

Egypt's new constitution gets 98% 'yes' vote

Patrick Kingsley in Cairo
theguardian.com, Saturday 18 January 2014 13.47 EST

Egypt’s new constitution strengthens the country’s military, the police and the judiciary, as well as giving more rights to women. Photograph: Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters

Over 98% of participants in the first Egyptian vote of the post-Morsi era voted in favour of approving a new constitution, the country's electoral commission officially announced on Saturday.
Egypt's government hailed the result as a resounding show of support for the direction the country has taken since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi last July.
"This is a wonderful day for Egypt, Egyptians and for democracy, despite the extraordinary circumstances," a spokesman for Egypt's interim presidency, Ehab Badawi, said in a statement ahead of the official announcement. "This vote represents a resounding rejection of terrorism and a clear endorsement of the roadmap to democracy, as well as economic development and stability."
After a campaign in which several no-campaigners were arrested and the government said participation was a patriotic duty, the poll's turnout is also seen as a significant indicator of the level of public support for the process.
According to officials, the turnout was a respectable 38.6% – higher than the 33% who voted in a referendum during Morsi's tenure, but lower than the 41.9% who turned out in a similar poll following Egypt's 2011 uprising.
Egypt's new constitution strengthens the country's three key institutions – the military, the police and the judiciary. It also gives more rights to women and disabled people, and removes certain Islamist-leaning clauses inserted under Morsi, while maintaining the principles of Islamic sharia as the main source of legislation.

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