In Egypt, on Saturday, a three-day referendum began to expand the powers of the President of the country, Field Marshal Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Over 60 million voters have been asked to express their attitude to the planned amendments to the constitution, which will allow al-Sisi to remain in power until 2030, DW reported.

According to the source, the positive outcome of the referendum is beyond doubt, only the activity of voters matters. Human rights activists and observers do not expect free voting and warn about the further deterioration of the human rights situation in Egypt.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that the proposed constitutional amendments would only speed up the dismantling of the independence of the judiciary and give the military even more rights to intervene in political life. The critics of reform have lately been under heavy pressure.

The Parliament of Egypt approved the constitutional amendments on April 16 by a two-thirds majority. Al-Sisi was re-elected in 2018, receiving 97 percent of the vote. His term expires in 2022. The amendments to the constitution that were submitted to the referendum will expand the powers of al-Sisi and in appointing senior posts in the judiciary.