Nasr Al-Din calls for extending terms

Egyptian parliamentarian Ismail Nasr Al-Din expressed his support for the calls to amend Egyptian constitution, saying that such a call aims to serve the interests of the country during the current critical period. He added that he will take the necessary measures to discuss his proposal in the Egyptian parliament and will not respond to the attempts to challenge him.

He added, in a statement to “Al Maghrib Today”, that he was the first to call for amending the constitution, saying Article 140 should be amended to extend the president's term from four to six years. He added that that he also wants to change Article 146, which mandates parliamentary approval before the president can make cabinet appointments or dismissals, as well as Article 103, which requires MPs to devote their full time to parliamentary business.

He continued that said Article 190 should be amended to strip the State Council – the country’s top administrative judicial body – of some its powers.

Nasreddin defended his proposal, arguing that the constitution allows for amendments and stating that the amendment is not about Sisi.

“Democracy rests upon the principles of majority rule,” he told Al-Monitor by phone. “This is part of the legislative revolution Egypt needs in the coming years, and aims to harmonize the government’s desired objectives with the existing legislative system."

He added, “We are a developing country. Development plans are not drafted for less than five years, and therefore the four-year presidential term is not appropriate in a state that is in need of education, health and economic reform and facing huge security challenges."

Nasreddin attacked those who criticized his proposal, saying they are defending their own private interests. He noted that he had launched a campaign in parliament to explain his reasoning and he will be addressing the media so that the public also understands.

“My proposal is not to perpetuate the president in office, but only to give him the opportunity to carry out his plans in a timely manner,” he said, noting that the public fears a repeat of the rule of former President Hosni Mubarak, who held the office for 30 years before being deposed in the January 25 Revolution.