CAIRO — News has been propagating about constitutional amendments that would extend the term of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in order to prepare the citizens for such prospects. Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper published Dec. 9 a report about presidential pressure on Al-Azhar to back the constitutional amendments. Pope Tawadros II of Alexandria announced in a Dec. 5 interview on TEN satellite channel his support for the constitutional amendments, in case it was needed.

Mada Masr cited Nov. 22 sources — which the website claimed were from the General Intelligence Service, parliament and the presidency — saying on condition of anonymity that the amendments aim at extending Sisi’s current term, without specifying the number of years that the amendment asks for.

According to the sources, the proposed amendments would effectively grant Sisi immunity from any decisions made by any future president, since one proposed amendment grants him a life-time appointment as head of a “High Council for the Protection of the Constitution." This council, proposed under the new amendments, would be given wide-ranging powers to protect national identity, national security and the constitution. These powers that are broadly defined would allow the council to block any decision by the president or parliament, especially if the president or any parliamentary bloc opposes the regime in place.

The amendments have yet to be officially submitted to parliament for discussion, but the sources told Mada Masr they would be submitted in the first quarter of 2019. After approval by two-thirds of parliament, the amendments would be put up to vote at a national referendum.