Although the referendum on the constitution is only a week away, the majority of the Egyptian people have no full knowledge of the articles they will vote on, since the constitutional declaration crisis has overshadowed citizens’ reactions about the referendum and divided residents between supporters and opponents of some articles, while others refuse to participate in the referendum completely.

Although the referendum on the constitution is only a week away, the majority of the Egyptian people have no full knowledge of the articles they will vote on, since the constitutional declaration crisis has overshadowed citizens’ reactions about the referendum and divided residents between supporters and opponents of some articles, while others refuse to participate in the referendum completely.

Mansour Saeed Gabbas, an English teacher in Asyout, said: “I agree that the draft of the new constitution will achieve stability and security. I see that the turnout this time will be greater than that of the referendum on the constitutional declaration on March 19, 2011, because everyone wants to express their opinions, whether opponents or supporters of the draft.”

[ibimage==3497==Small_Image==none==self==null]

Hussein Abdul Mo’min Amer 

But chemist Hussein Abdul Mo’min Amer disagreed: “I believe that after Chancellor Ghariani delivered the constitution draft to the presidency, the remaining 15-day period for the referendum on the constitution is not sufficient for the people to be fully familiar with its articles. I think there should have been an expanded program by national newspapers, the Egyptian television and satellite channels to show the articles; most people do not know them. The president is also supposed to present the most important articles concerning prosperity, development and social justice to the people because those are what people need since 40% of them are illiterate.”

Split views

There has been a split in the views of supporters and opponents of the constitution, due either to their different ideological backgrounds or to reasons related to the constitution’s articles themselves. In a cafe in Asyout city, Abdulghani Adel Abdulghani, an x-ray technician, stressed his opposition to the decisions of President Morsi because they “will harm many people, and the turnout for the referendum will not exceed 35%. These decisions have split people between supporters and opponents, which will cause confusion among citizens and make them long for Hosni Mubarak’s rule.”

Sitting next to him was Salah Ismail Mohammed, head of the Technological Development Section at the Educational Department of Sahel Salim, who said that the ordinary citizen could not care less about what happens in the political field, adding: “I see that the crisis of the constitutional declaration will not affect the turnout. We do not want the transitional period to go on any longer because it had been meant to last for only six months, but it lasted for two years.”

Kamal Fahim Mikhail, a teacher who was sitting with his wife and children in a far corner of the café, went further than support and opposition, expressly declaring his boycott of the referendum because most political forces disapproved the new constitution. He wished there had been an agreement on the constitution to realize stability, but the new constitution was hastily developed by the Islamist current, he said.

“Not interested in politics”

Jamal Amin Mohammed, a vendor, said: “The crisis of the constitutional declaration will not affect the turnout because there is nothing wrong with the new constitution and all of the articles have been read on television,” adding that, “once the new constitution is issued, President Morsi’s constitution will be abolished. Mohamed Morsi has done nothing for himself. The people will judge the new constitution by approving or disapproving it since we have accepted democracy. Besides, not all those in the Tahrir Square represent the people.”

[ibimage==3503==Small_Image==none==self==null]

Mahmoud Bakr Mahmoud

Mahmoud Bakr Mahmoud, another vendor, said: “I am not interested in politics; however, I say yes to the constitution. We want Morsi and we want stability.”

[ibimage==3509==Small_Image==none==self==null]

Ibrahim Allam Ali

Ibrahim Allam Ali, a vegetable seller, said: “I want a better situation, stability and security. I want Islamists, that’s all.”

[ibimage==3515==Small_Image==none==self==null]

Abdo Hashem Ali Mustafa

Farmer Abdo Hashem Ali Mustafa said: “I do not understand the constitutional articles. The Official Gazette [Al Gareedah Al Rasmeyah] has not presented it so far, and we want it to do that so that we know what these articles are and what is happening, since we know nothing.”

Absent revolutionary demands

At the same time, some citizens’ views reflect a real interest in the implications of the constitution.

[ibimage==3521==Small_Image==none==self==null]

Hassan Ahmed Mohammed

Hassan Ahmed Mohammed, a waiter, said: “I will say no to the constitution because some articles establish the authoritarian state the revolution broke out to topple. First of all, the president has not appointed a vice-president, which was a revolutionary demand, and the president will appoint all the controlling bodies that will supervise him. If no article of the constitution may be amended before the lapse of 10 years, then why should I elect a parliament? I am so surprised by that. The president ignored all the millions who demonstrated on Tuesdays and on Fridays, then declared that the referendum would be held 15 days later! I have seen nothing like that; even Hitler himself did not do that.”

Some preferred to take care of their personal interests.

[ibimage==3527==Small_Image==none==self==null]

Abdurrahim Attifi

Abdurrahim Attifi, a pensioner, said: “We demand a pension increase. I used to get about US $200, but now I only get $42! Is it reasonable to get such a low pension while I have 13 children? Moreover, I have known through TV that Morsi supports the poor, and he will set the minimum and maximum wages in the constitution. This is why I am going to say yes to the constitution.”