Referendum Approving Constitution Raises Concerns about Democracy in Egypt

Freedom House is concerned that passage of the draft Egyptian constitution in two rounds of voting will not advance the democratic transition that Egyptians have been seeking since their revolution began in January 2011.  While voters approved the document on December 18 and 25 by a margin of 63.8 percent, many Egyptians were troubled by the flawed and non-inclusive manner by which the document was drafted,  the lack of debate over its details, and the haste with which President Mohammed Morsi called the referendum.

Moreover, the referendum took place amidst violent clashes between secular protesters who disapproved of the representative assembly, which produced a document that lacks adequate civilian oversight of the military and restricts basic human rights. Due to the absence of international monitors, lack of judiciary oversight and the fact that the majority of judges boycotted the referendum, questions abound about whether the referendum process was free and fair.

The inability of the current leadership to find consensus among the different political forces in the country could perpetuate a state of instability, violence and economic decline. Therefore, Freedom House calls on President Morsi to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the opposition and lead the way to a genuine process of democratic reform well in advance of parliamentary elections, which will be held in two months.

For more information, visit:

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Press Release: Constitution Signals Step Away from Democracy in Egypt