Egypt opposition urges "No" vote to extend president's term

CAIRO — A coalition of opposition political parties on Thursday called on Egyptian voters to reject proposed constitutional amendments that would allow President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to stay in power until 2030.

A three-day nationwide referendum that starts Saturday was apparently designed to maximize turnout.

The Civil Democratic Movement, which includes liberal and left-leaning parties, held a news conference to decry the amendments.

The group called on Egyptians to stop what it described as an "assault on democracy" by breaking the "barrier of silence" and participating in the referendum by voting "No."

"We want people to go and say no," said Abdel-Aziz al-Husseini of the Karam party.

Khaled Dawood, an opposition leader and former head of the liberal Dostour, or Constitution party, said if the referendum passes, "our dream and hope to have a president who is elected once every two terms have come to an end."

In general terms, the amendments extend a president's term in office from four to six years and allow for a maximum of two terms. But they also include a special article specific to el-Sissi that extends his current second four-year term to six years and allows him to run for another six-year term in 2024 — potentially extending his rule until 2030.

El-Sissi came to power in 2014 after removing his predecessor, Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the now-outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

Following Morsi's ouster, authorities waged an unprecedent crackdown on dissent that left hundreds of protesters dead and thousands in jail while freedom of expression and the media were eroded.

Political analyst Hassan Nafaa told The Associated Press that the proposed amendments amount to "legalizing dictatorship in the constitution and that will have dangerous repercussions on the political system when all doors for freedom of expression are sealed."

"The adjustment will lead to absolute dictatorship," he added