Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is one step closer toward maintaining long-term, authoritarian power over his country.
On Tuesday, Egypt's parliament voted overwhelmingly — the final tally from the largely pro-Sisi parliament was 531 to 22 with one abstention — to approve "sweeping changes" to the national constitution. The amendments would help extend Sisi's rule until 2030 and give him unprecedented control over the judicial system. The changes to the constitution include: extending presidential terms from four to six years (Sisi's current term would be extended two years until 2024, after which he'd be permitted to run again), the ability for the president to appoint judges and a new prosecutor, and declaring the military, which Sisi used to command, "the guardian and protector" of Egypt's democracy and constitution.
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.
-
Thrilling must-see operas for 2025The Week Recommends From Carmen to Peter Grimes, these are the UK's top productions
-
There is a 'third state' between life and deathUnder the radar Cells can develop new abilities after their source organism dies
-
Is it worth getting an interest-only mortgage?The Explainer Your monthly payments may be cheaper but the full mortgage amount will need to be paid back eventually
-
Trump touts early wins in partisan speech to CongressSpeed Read The president said he is 'just getting started' with his sweeping changes to immigration, the economy and foreign policy
-
Trudeau blasts Trump's 'very dumb' trade warSpeed Read Retaliatory measures have been announced by America's largest trading partners following Trump's tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China
-
Trump pauses military aid to Ukraine after public spatSpeed Read Trump and J.D. Vance berated Volodymyr Zelenskyy for what they saw as insufficient gratitude
-
Trump's Mexico and Canada tariffs begin, roiling marketsSpeed Read Stocks plunged after Trump affirmed that the tariffs would take effect, sparking a likely trade war
-
Judge tells White House to stop ordering mass firingsspeed read The ruling is a complication in the Trump administration's plans to slash the federal workforce
-
Trump vows 25% tariffs on EU at Cabinet meetingSpeed Read The tariff threats serve to enhance a growing suspicion that the president views Europe as an adversary, not an ally
-
Trump proposes 'gold card' visas for rich immigrantsspeed read The president claimed the US will begin selling $5 million visas offering permanent residency
-
House passes framework for big tax and spending cutsSpeed Read Democrats opposed the GOP's plan for $4.5 trillion in tax cuts and $2 trillion in spending cuts, citing the impacts it will have on social programs
