Egypt’s MPs to vote on extension to President Sisi’s rule this week

Egypt’s parliament has rescheduled for this week its vote on proposed changes to the constitution that would allow President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi to stay in office beyond his current term, which ends in 2020. Parliament spokesperson Ahmad Saad al-Din said on Sunday that the legislature would hold the crucial vote on Wednesday, instead of a scheduled meeting on February 17, AP reported. Last week, the 596-seat assembly had given its preliminary approval to the changes. The motion is expected to be overwhelmingly approved by the legislature, but the amendments would also need to be put to a national referendum to become law. The proposed amendments also include the introduction of the role of vice president and the reintroduction of a Senate, or upper chamber.