Government and security agencies in Cairo and the governorates are now at the highest level of readiness in preparation for the upcoming referendum on the new constitution, scheduled to take place Jan. 14-15. The country’s political administration is mobilizing in force, due to the referendum’s characterization as the first step of the road map adopted after the ouster of former President Mohammed Morsi on June 30.

In this regard, the cabinet held a number of coordinating meetings with the Board of Governors and relevant ministries, to discuss preparations to manage the voting process and ensure the security of all voting stations. Monitoring procedures will be adopted to guarantee the transparency of the referendum while ensuring that it be devoid of fraud.

In this regard, Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim told Al-Monitor during an interview at the Council of Ministers, “We have put in place security plans to safeguard the constitutional referendum process in all governorates. In Sinai, where many confrontations have taken place with terrorist factions, and the cities of Upper Egypt, [have been given particular attention]. These security operations will take the form of cooperative efforts between the police and army. I also would like to reassure all Egyptians and invite them to strongly partake in the voting, because their participation will negate any attempts aimed at disrupting the referendum. We have plans to confront and counter any terrorist operations undertaken by members of the Muslim Brotherhood to distract and confuse the state on the days of the referendum. We will not allow any trespasses and are fully cognizant of all the plans that these factions have to sabotage the new constitution and stand in the way of implementing the road map.”

Ibrahim also warned, “The Muslim Brothers now want to prevent constituents from voting, while trying to convince them that this constitution falls contrary to Muslim Sharia law and will corrupt the morals of society. They are disseminating forged and inaccurate copies of the new constitution. We will confront all their efforts, however, and the state will succeed in implementing the road map and overcoming the new transitional period.”