For this round of region reports I read about Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi and how he could stay in power until 2034. Despite his presidential term due to close in 2022, the Egyptian government plans to pass a new bill that would allow the president to serve an extra 12 years. WIth the extended term, the president would also be granted the powers to appoint judges and the country’s public prosecutor. Supporters in parliament argue that the extended term would allow the president more time to carry out economic reforms and other promises he made to the country upon being elected.
I think the idea of giving a president an extra 12 years to carry out reforms is most likely a poorly intended move. It seems this is a way for those in parliament to keep their position in power for as long as possible. It is especially interesting when looking at the fact that al-Sisi won his election by a resounding 97% of the vote due to his competitors either dropping out of the race or being arrested. Even if the proposition is for nothing more than giving the president more time to better the country, it feels like this is something that could lead to political leaders abusing their power and overstaying their welcome.