Millions of Egyptians voted in a referendum Friday nine constitutional amendments that have been prepared specialists in law and amending the Constitution to permit the holding of free legislative and presidential elections in the near future, for the first time since the 1952 revolution .
The day was mostly developed normally, showing a high level of participation among the 46 million Egyptians voting. There have been some incidents, like the altercation that occurred in the electoral college of Cairo that has come to vote the Nobel Peace Prize Mohamed ElBaradei, where young supporters of the National Democratic Party (NDP), the formation of the deposed Hosni Mubarak, have been chanting slogans against him and forced him to fade away after throwing stones and without giving him time to cast his ballot.
Faced with polling stations open from eight in the morning, long queues have formed, one of men and other women, far more numerous than they had in the electoral contests of the era of Mubarak, who ruled the country for three decades, until his definitive departure from office last February 11. The huge influx has been shown that in the future will require more polling stations and now the Egyptians are more likely to participate in a consultation.
The voters could say yes or no to reforms which, among other things reduced from seven to four years the mandates of the president, who also can not remain in office beyond two terms. Other reforms envisage that may occur independent candidates and limit the declaration of emergency laws that have been in place during the presidency of Mubarak. It is expected that over Sunday's authorities to provide interim results.
The Islamists, in favor of itself
The fact that the Islamists, both the Muslim Brotherhood, al-Gama al-Islamiya and the Salafists, have pronounced themselves in favor of reserves has raised a large part of society that religious fears are taking control of the country and impose sharia (Islamic law).
However, the Muslim Brotherhood leaders have said they do not aspire to the presidency of the republic and they do not want to get an absolute majority in Parliament, and therefore will not present candidates in all districts. The leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed Badie, said "the people are the source of sovereignty."
