Egypt: Opposition urges people to reject Sisi amendment

A coalition of opposition political parties in Egypt on Thursday urged voters to reject proposed constitutional amendments that could allow President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to stay in power till 2030.

"We want people to go and say no," Al Jazeera quoted Abdel-Aziz al-Husseini of the Karam party, as saying.

The Civil Democratic Movement, including liberal and left-leaning parties, called the amendments an "assault on democracy".

The three-day referendum will begin on Saturday.

According to the constitution of Egypt, the president can contest for a maximum for two terms in which each term varies from four to six years.

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 will come to an end".

"Unfortunately, the Egyptian regime is not learning the lessons of 2011 revolution or experiences in Algeria and Sudan," he said.

Political analysts have also accused Sisi of misusing the state funds and power to launch crackdown on his political opposition.

Opposition parties have claimed that they were banned from hanging banners in the streets to call on voters to reject the amendments and said they have only used social media to reach out to people.

The 64-year-old came to power in 2014 after overthrowing then-President Mohamed Morsi.