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Ammon News - The Telegraph - The new text strips out disputed Islamist language while strengthening state institutions that defied Mohammed Morsi: the military, the police and the judiciary.

Egyptians will today vote in a constitutional referendum, the first ballot since the military overthrew Islamist president Mohammed Morsi and an event likely to spawn a presidential bid by army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Few doubt that Egyptians, who staged mass protests against Mr Morsi's rule before his ousting, will turn out in big numbers and vote "yes" in the two-day referendum, a milestone in the army-backed government's political road map.

Gen Sisi deposed Mr Morsi, Egypt's first freely elected head of state, in July. His Islamist foes see Gen Sisi as the mastermind of a coup that kindled the worst internal strife in Egypt's modern history and brought back what critics call a police state.

But many Egyptians are weary of the political upheaval that has gripped Egypt and shattered its economy since they rose up to topple autocrat in 2011, and they view Gen Sisi as a decisive figure who can reinstate stability.

Analysts say the referendum is also turning out to be a vote on the popularity of a man whose image features on posters across Cairo.

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"He's a man," said Om Sami, who lives in a Cairo slum, summing up a widespread view that bringing back powerful military officers to rule would be acceptable, even though it could undermine democratic gains made after Mubarak's fall.

"The situation does not please us, but we'll vote 'yes' and God willing it will get better."
This will be the third time Egyptians have voted on constitutional arrangements since the historic uprising against Mr Mubarak, a former air force chief, in January 2011, and overall the sixth time they have gone to the polls since his downfall.

The constitution will replace one signed into law by Mr Morsi a little more than a year ago after it was approved in a referendum. The new text strips out disputed Islamist language while strengthening state institutions that defied Mr Morsi: the military, the police and the judiciary.

Egypt's Western allies were hoping that a more competitive political field would emerge, three years after the Arab Spring tide of democratic change swept through the country.

But little leverage has been applied to back their calls for inclusive politics in the biggest Arab nation. Suspicions have already emerged about the fairness of the referendum.
Egypt is deeply influential in the Arab world and whatever political scenario unfolds there could impact the region.

The political turmoil has wrecked the economy. But Gulf Arab states, suspicious of the Muslim Brotherhood, jumped to Egypt's rescue after Mr Morsi's overthrow, providing billions of dollars in aid.