Modest reform
The week's news at a glance.
Cairo
Egypt’s parliament this week changed the constitution to allow multiple candidates to run in presidential elections. But opposition parties said the restrictions on running were so stringent that the change was merely cosmetic. Under the old system, parliament nominated a single presidential candidate, who was confirmed in an up-or-down vote in a national referendum. Now, opposition parties may put forward alternative candidates, but each candidate must have the backing of at least 65 deputies in the 454-member assembly. Since all 15 opposition parties combined control just 42 seats, any opposition candidate would need support from President Hosni Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party—a highly unlikely prospect.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
June 29 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the AI genie, Iran saving face, and bad language bombs
-
A tall ship adventure in the Mediterranean
The Week Recommends Sailing aboard this schooner and exploring Portugal, Spain and Monaco is a 'magical' experience
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare