CAIRO, Egypt (PNN) - December 10, 2012 - The Egyptian opposition has rejected a constitution referendum set for December 15, saying the it fails to represent all Egyptians. It comes after President Mohammed Morsi rescinded a decree granting himself sweeping powers.
The opposition says Morsi’s concession of the controversial decree is an empty gesture since it already achieved its main aim of ensuring the adoption of the draft constitution.
The referendum will go ahead as scheduled on December 15.
“One of our major demands is to postpone the vote on the constitution. Failing to respond to this will lead to more confrontation,”said a senior official from the National Salvation Front.
The opposition says the constitution, which was drafted by a Muslim Brotherhood-led assembly, ignores personal freedoms, disregards the rights of women, and fails to represent all Egyptians.
But Morsi supporters say the scrapping of Morsi’s decree should be enough to please the opposition.
“We ask others to announce their acceptance of the referendum result,” Brotherhood spokesman Mahmoud Ghozland said on the party’s Facebook page. He also asked whether the opposition would accept the “basics of democracy”.
But those who do not support Morsi are showing no signs of accepting the referendum. Egypt’s liberal opposition called for more protests earlier Sunday.
On Saturday, Morsi called a meeting with the opposition, in an effort to quell the violent protests that have shaken the country since the decree was announced on November 22.
“We have yet to see what will happen in the coming future, but if the president keeps by this referendum, then I’m sure the opposition forces won’t move either. So even though we had this [meeting], we’re still looking at a divided Egypt and political deadlock,” said journalist Bel Trew.
Opposition groups boycotted the Saturday talks, which lasted over ten hours, and called for protesters to step up demonstrations.
But many say the opposition is facing an uphill battle, as they come up against Morsi’s “hidden agenda”.
“If Morsi was genuinely honest about his goals, he would have [canceled the referendum] long ago. But he’s pushing a black, secret, hidden agenda on the population and the population - rightly so - smells a skunk,” said author and publicist William Engdahl.
But Selim Awa, an official who attended the Saturday meeting, said that Morsi is unable to change the date of the referendum on the draft charter - even if he wanted to do so.
Morsi says if the constitution is voted down in the referendum, he will call for an election within three months to choose a new constituent assembly.
