Outside the Beltway

Egyptian Vote on New Constitution

Steven L. Taylor · Tuesday, January 14, 2014 · 2 comments

Via the BBC:  Egypt referendum: Vote under way amid tight security.

The post-Mubarak era continues to muddle through to establish a new consolidated set of rules under which to govern, with the military continuing to be the central player in Egyptian politics.

I have not reviewed the proposed new charter, although press accounts indicate that it has some clearly praetorian elements (i.e., it institutionalizes some key political powers for the military, such as power to appoint the defense minister for the next eight years).

One thing is for certain:  the vote is also about the military seeking a patina of legitimacy for its actions against President Morsi.  Also, the degree to which there is a real choice on the table is debatable, since rejecting the new constitution would not lead to the military leaving power.

The Muslim Brotherhood has called for a boycott of the vote.

See, also, the LAT:  Egypt’s vote on new constitution is far from clear-cut.