Egypt's historic referendum could bolster Islamists | WPN World People News

Final results of Saturday's historic referendum show that 77.2 percent of voters have backed constitutional changes in what was the freest vote in Egypt in more than half a century, but opponents say the result give an unfair advantage to Islamist-dominant entities such as the Muslim Brotherhood and the former ruling National Democratic Party.

According to a report in the Christian Science Monitor (CSM), the outcome sets the stage for a quick transition to a new government, as advocated by the military council that's been ruling Egypt since former President Hosni Mubarak was toppled by popular protests last month.

But the truncated timeline means the new parties emerging in Egypt after decades of oppression could struggle to organize in time to find success in the elections.

Opponents of the amendments say the result gives an unfair advantage to the Muslim Brotherhood and the former ruling National Democratic Party - the two political groups that gained the deepest roots during the Mubarak regime.

Egyptian Christians are said to be the most disappointed by the voting pattern, fearing that the referendum result will exacerbate sectarian tensions.

Emad Gad, an analyst at the Al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, was quoted as saying: "The main problem here is the next parliament will write the next Constitution. So then, the fanatics and the Muslim Brotherhood will govern us for decades."

Opponents of the referendum argue that the changes don't go far enough. They want a completely new Constitution before any elections are held.

Source: ANI