Egypt’s new Prime Minister vows to achieve change as referendum set for March 19
A day after he was named as the new Prime Minister of Egypt, Essam Sharaf attended on Friday a huge rally by pro-democracy campaigners in Cairo's Tahrir Square and vowed to work to achieve their demands.
SHARAF PROMISES
Addressing Protesters, Shraraf said the security apparatus, which was much hated by the people during ousted president Hosni Mukarak's rule, must work for the good of the people.
Sharaf told the thousands of protesters in Tahrir Square that he had come "to draw legitimacy" from them. He was cheered and carried away from the podium on the shoulders of protesters, escorted by military police.
The new PM seeking legitimacy also saluted the martyrs of the revolution. "Glory and respect to the families of the victims and a special salute to everyone who took part and gave for this white revolution," Sharaf said. "I am here to draw my legitimacy from you. You are the ones to whom legitimacy belongs," he said.
"I have been entrusted with a heavy mission and need patience, will and resolve," Sharaf said. "The mission that I am trying to realize, with all my heart, is your goals," he said, adding that the day when he could not realize them, he would join the protesters in the square.
"Take the oath, take the oath, take the oath," chanted the crowd, urging Sharaf to take the oath of office in front of them. He declined to do so.
The rally after Friday’s prayers aimed at pressing the country's military rulers to come true with their promises of reform and change.
Sharaf, a former transport minister, was appointed by the military supreme council on Thursday to replace Ahmed Shafiq, the former air force officer who had been appointed by Hosni Mubarak before he was toppled from the presidency on February 11.
The square in the centre of the Egyptian capital was the focal point of anti-government protests that brought down Mubarak last month.
REFEREDUM SET FOR MARCH 19
In a related and significant development, an army source announced on Friday popular referendum on constitutional changes in Egypt has been set for March 19.
"The referendum will take place on March 19, depending on the security situation in the country. But that is the date that has been set, yes," the army source was quoted by Agence France Press (AFP) as saying.
The agency also noted that a statement on the cabinet's Facebook page said there would be changes to seven articles of the constitution. It said one article will be removed and three additions will be made.
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces has formed a committee to pilot constitutional changes, headed by respected scholar Tarek al-Bishri, which proposed to limit presidential terms to two and reduce them to four years. Under the suspended constitution, a president can serve an unlimited number of six-year terms.
Changes will also be made to the controversial Article 76, in a bid to ease restrictions on presidential candidates. Amendments will also be made to Article 88 on judicial supervision of elections and Article 93 which governs appeals against official results of legislative elections.
Changes will also be made to Article 189, which currently allows only the president and the speaker of parliament to call for constitutional amendments.
Article 179, which gives the president the right to order a military trial for civilians, will be removed.
