2014 Egyptian constitutional referendum

President Mohamad Morsi was removed from power during the 2013 Egyptian coup d'état.{{Cite news|title=Egypt's timetable for transition to elections|url=https://news.yahoo.com/egypts-timetable-transition-elections-221345598.html|agency=Associated Press|date=9 July 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The timetable established by interim president Adly Mansour envisioned a rapid transition, which initially entailed amending the suspended 2012 constitution.

The process of amending the 2012 constitution began with a committee of 10 legal experts.{{Cite news|title=Mansour to form committee in charge of constitutional amendments|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/mansour-form-committee-charge-constitutional-amendments|agency=Egypt Independent|date=18 July 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The draft amendments by the committee of 10 made many notable changes to the text of the 2012 constitution.{{Cite news|title=22 Key Points in Egypt's New Draft Constitution|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/egypt-draft-constitution-guide.html|agency=Al Monitor|date=23 August 2013|access-date=12 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113120852/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/08/egypt-draft-constitution-guide.html|archive-date=13 January 2014|url-status=dead}} The committee of 10 completed their work on 20 August 2013.{{Cite news|title=Amended draft of Egyptian constitution passed to president|url=http://en.aswatmasriya.com/news/view.aspx?id=94ea4b57-e8e4-408b-b1a3-5901e788c076|agency=Aswat Masriya|date=21 August 2013|access-date=22 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928201458/http://en.aswatmasriya.com/news/view.aspx?id=94ea4b57-e8e4-408b-b1a3-5901e788c076|archive-date=28 September 2013|url-status=dead}}

The second phase of the process included amendments by a committee of 50; those 50 people were announced on 1 September 2013.{{Cite news|title=Members of constitutional committee of 50 announced|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/members-constitutional-committee-50-announced|agency=Egypt Independent|date=1 September 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} Amr Moussa was chosen as the chairman of the committee of 50 on 8 September 2013.{{Cite news|title=50-member constitutional committee chooses Amr Moussa as chairman|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/50-member-constitutional-committee-chooses-amr-moussa-chairman|agency=Egypt Independent|date=8 September 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The draft constitution was given to President Mansour on 3 December 2013.{{Cite news|title=Mansour receives amended constitution|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/12/03/mansour-receives-amended-constitution/|work=Daily News Egypt|date=3 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}}

The Dignity Party backed the constitution.{{Cite news|title=Parties start campaigns to support new constitution|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/parties-start-campaigns-support-new-constitution|agency=Egypt Independent|date=3 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Free Egyptians Party supported it.{{Cite news|title=Egypt's Free Egyptians Party distributes Braille draft constitution at rally|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/91239.aspx|agency=Ahram Online|date=9 January 2014|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Socialist Popular Alliance Party as well as the Socialist Party of Egypt also supported the constitution. The Popular Current had said that it supported the constitution.{{Cite news|title=Al-Tayar Al-Sha'aby calls for Yes vote in constitutional referendum, supports Sabahy for Presidency|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/12/21/al-tayar-al-shaaby-calls-for-yes-vote-in-constitutional-referendum-supports-sabahy-for-presidency/|work=Daily News Egypt|date=21 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Nour Party said it would support the constitution.{{cite web|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/nour-party-not-running-presidency-leading-member|title=Nour Party not running for presidency : leading member|work=Egypt Independent|date=9 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} Tamarod started a campaign on 5 December 2013 in support of the constitution.{{Cite news|title=Tamarod launches campaign urging participation in constitution referendum|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tamarod-launches-campaign-urging-participation-constitution-referendum|agency=Egypt Independent|date=5 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Egyptian Trade Union Federation called on its supporters to vote for the constitution.{{Cite news|title=Vote Yes to the constitution: ETUF|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2013/12/24/vote-yes-to-the-constitution-etuf/|work=Daily News Egypt|date=24 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The National Salvation Front said that it would call for a yes vote on the constitution.{{Cite news|title=Salvation Front calls for voting 'yes' to amendments|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/salvation-front-calls-voting-%E2%80%98yes-amendments|agency=Egypt Independent|date=10 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213130841/http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/salvation-front-calls-voting-%E2%80%98yes-amendments|archive-date=13 December 2013|url-status=dead}} The Egyptian Social Democratic Party voted for the constitution.{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/89734.aspx|title=Egyptian Social Democratic Party will vote 'Yes' in constitution referendum|work=Ahram Online|date=22 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}}

Khaled Ali, a former presidential candidate, was opposed to the constitution; he stated that it was "inappropriate" for Egypt.{{Cite news|title=Khaled Ali says constitution not appropriate for Egypt|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/khaled-ali-says-constitution-not-appropriate-egypt|agency=Egypt Independent|date=7 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Revolutionary Socialists also expressed their opposition to it.{{Cite news|title=Revolutionary Socialists call for "no" vote on constitution|url=http://en.aswatmasriya.com/news/view.aspx?id=344008f6-1b40-4b42-808e-e1db084248c6|agency=Aswat Masriya|date=18 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Road of the Revolution Front announced on 8 January 2014 that it would vote against the constitution.{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/91136.aspx|title=Way of the Revolution Front to vote no to constitution|work=Ahram Online|date=8 January 2014|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Freedom and Justice Party and the Islamic Bloc, which had won 65.3% of the vote in Egypt's parliamentary elections in 2011–2012, opposed the new Constitution and the referendum as being the fruits of an illegal military coup.{{Cite news|title=Freedom and Justice Party: Declaration Unconstitutional, Null and Void|url=http://www.fjponline.com/article.php?id=1818}}

The Anti-Coup Alliance, which includes the Muslim Brotherhood-linked Freedom and Justice Party, announced on 22 December 2013 that it would boycott the vote.{{Cite news|title=Egypt's pro-Morsi coalition to boycott constitutional referendum|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/89799.aspx|agency=Ahram Online|date=22 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} The Strong Egypt Party and the April 6 Youth Movement also indicated that they would boycott the vote.{{cite web|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/strong-egypt-april-6-boycott-referendum|title=Strong Egypt, April 6 boycott referendum |work=Egypt Independent|date=13 January 2014|access-date=13 January 2014}} The Strong Egypt Party was initially going to mobilize for a "no" vote,{{cite web|url=http://madamasr.com/content/strong-egypt-party-members-arrested-after-posting-%E2%80%98no%E2%80%99-campaign-material|title=Strong Egypt Party members arrested after posting ‘no’ campaign material|work=Mada Masr|date=8 January 2014|access-date=7 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209155107/http://www.madamasr.com/content/strong-egypt-party-members-arrested-after-posting-%E2%80%98no%E2%80%99-campaign-material|archive-date=9 February 2014|url-status=dead}} but changed their stance after members of the party were arrested for having posters which supported the "no" campaign.{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/0/91496/Egypt/0/Strong-Egypt-Party-to-boycott-the-referendum.aspx|title=Strong Egypt Party to boycott the referendum|work=Ahram Online|date=13 January 2014|access-date=7 February 2014}}

According to the official results, turnout was 38.9%. Turnout in the constitutional referendum of 2012 had been 32.9%.

Tamarod,{{Cite news|title=Tamarod to oversee constitution referendum|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/tamarod-oversee-constitution-referendum|agency=Egypt Independent|date=9 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} the European Union{{Cite news|title=EU monitors Constitution referendum|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/eu-monitors-constitution-referendum|agency=Egypt Independent|date=9 December 2013|access-date=12 January 2014}} and 27,000 observers were expected to monitor the referendum; judges affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood were excluded from supervising polling stations.{{Cite news|title=27,000 observers to monitor referendum|url=http://thecairopost.com/news/70823/news/27000-observers-to-monitor-referendum|work=The Cairo Post|date=10 January 2014|access-date=12 January 2014}}

According to Human Rights Watch, 11 people were killed in the clashes on 14 January 2014.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/01/15/death-toll-rises-to-11-overnight-following-bloody-afternoon/|title=Death toll rises to 11 overnight following bloody afternoon|work=Daily News Egypt|date=15 January 2014|access-date=16 January 2014}} However, according to the Health ministry, 8 people died in the first day of voting and two people died in the second day of voting.{{cite news|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/health-ministry-two-deaths-8-injured-second-day-referendum|title=Health Ministry: Two deaths, 8 injured on second day of referendum|work=Egypt Independent|date=16 January 2014|access-date=16 January 2014}}

In the weeks before the voting there were massive arrests of persons opposing the Constitution or the referendum.{{cite news|url=http://www.fjponline.com/article.php?id=1818|title=Egypt: Activists Arrested for 'No' Campaign: Repression Intensifies Ahead of Constitutional Referendum|work=Human Rights Watch|date=13 January 2014|access-date=18 January 2014}}

Voter participation was about 38.6 percent according to Egyptian government figures that were challenged by the Muslim Brotherhood, which had called of a boycott because the vote was taking place after a military coup. There were almost 20 million total votes in favor. The vote was held with support for a "yes" vote by the Egyptian government and state media as well as a crackdown on those against it.{{cite news|title=Egypt constitution gets 98.1% 'yes' vote|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/egypt-constitution-gets-98-1-yes-vote-1.2502021|newspaper=Associated Press|date=18 January 2014|access-date=19 January 2014}}

For comparison, about 16.7 million voters participated in the vote approving the constitution drafted under Morsi. This represented a turnout of 32.9 percent despite a boycott of the vote by non-Islamist factions. Of those that participated in that election, 63.8 percent voted for the Morsi-backed constitution, or about 10.65 million "yes" votes.

{{Referendum

| title =

| yes = 19,985,389

| yespct = 98.13

| no = 381,341

| nopct = 1.87

| valid = 20,366,730

| validpct = 98.8

| invalid = 246,947

| invalidpct = 1.2

| total = 20,613,677

| electorate = 53,423,485

| turnoutpct = 38.6

| source = [http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/91874/Egypt/Politics-/UPDATE---approves-postJune--constitution.aspx Al Ahram]

}}

File:Egyptian constitutional referendum 2014 Turnout.svg

• {{Flag|Russia}} - President Vladimir Putin was the first president to congratulate Egyptians on the constitution as he asked the new Egyptian ambassador in Russia to convey the best wishes to the Egyptian leadership saying: "We hope the Egyptian society will overcome current political and socio-economic difficulties and the country will return on the path of stability and growth."{{cite web|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com//news/putin-congratulates-egyptians-constitution|title=Putin congratulates Egyptians on constitution }}
• {{Flag|UAE}} - Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan congratulated the Egyptian people saying: "The move is major milestone towards the roadmap for the future which will usher sisterly Egypt into the aspired stability and development."{{cite web|url=http://www.mofa.gov.ae/mofa_english/portal/2a9b302f-0f6b-4830-9ef0-77b814694999.aspx|title=HH Sheikh Abdullah bin ZayedAl Nahyan congratulates Egyptian people on success of constitutional referendum }}
• {{Flag|Iraq}} - Nouri Al-Maliki congratulated the Egyptian people saying that the overwhelming support for the constitution shown in polls reflects the Egyptian people's strong will to reject violence and terrorism and strive for peace, stability and freedom.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/iraqi-pm-congratulates-egypt-charter-092701196.html|title=Iraqi PM congratulates Egypt on new charter}}

• Egyptian Constitution of 2014

{{Reflist|30em}}

• [http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/88644/Egypt/Politics-/Egypts-constitution--vs--A-comparison.aspx Egypt's constitution 2013 vs. 2012: A comparison], Al Ahram-English, 9 December 2013
• [http://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/egyptsource/english-translation-of-egypt-s-2013-draft-constitution English Translation of Egypt's 2013 Draft Constitution], Atlantic Council, 6 December 2013
• [http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Categories/tmpListOfArticles.aspx?CatID=2679 The Draft in the media (Opinions)]

{{Egyptian elections}}{{Authority control}}

{{2011–present Egyptian civil unrest}}

Constitutional

Egypt

Category:Referendums in Egypt

Category:Constitutions of Egypt

Category:Egyptian Crisis (2011–2014)

Category:Constitutional referendums in Egypt

Constitutional referendum