A coalition of secular opposition parties–including Al-Wafd, Al-Tagamu, Al-Nasseri and Al-Gabha–will hold a three-day conference beginning on 13 March with the aim of discussing the need for constitutional amendments.
Conference participants are expected to discuss constitutional articles 76 and 77–which pertain to the duration of the president’s term in office–along with articles governing presidential and prime ministerial powers; the relationship between the three main branches of government; and the judicial supervision of national elections.
According to Al-Wafd General-Secretary Mounir Fakhri, the coalition will invite 50 public figures–specialized in law and politics–to the event, whose names will be announced next Tuesday.
Al-Gabha Party President Osama el-Ghazali Harb, for his part, suggested sending an invitation to Mohamed ElBaradei, former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency and potential presidential candidate. Harb’s recommendation, however, was rejected by representatives of the other three parties.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
