The Egyptian parliament has approved proposed Constitutional amendments that would allow President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power until 2034 and boost his control of the judiciary.
Parliament Speaker Ali Abdelaal said 485 Members of Parliament of the 596-seat assembly ,voted in favour of the changes, comprising more than the two-thirds the majority needs to pass the amendments.
The proposed changes will now go for a review before a parliamentary committee and then return to Parliament for a second vote before they are presented for a national Referendum expected before the middle of the year.
Al-Sisi won re-election last year in a landslide beating an unpopular candidate.
Most strong contenders were forced to step aside in the run up to the vote.
His current mandate expires in 2024 after which he could potentially serve three more terms which could mean he would have served as president for two decades – a total of five four year terms.
