Egypt's governing Supreme Council of the Armed Forces passed on Sunday a declaration of amendments to the Constitution that will outline the future president’s powers and responsibilities, the country’s state television reported.
The text of the declaration is expected to be officially announced on Monday at a press conference with Gen. Mamduh Shahin, a spokesman for the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.
On Saturday and Sunday, Egyptians went to the polls in the second round of presidential elections, the first since Hosni Mubarak was forced to step down by an uprising in February last year. The election results are expected to be announced on June 21.
According to Egypt’s Al-Ahram daily the new amendments will give the president a broad spectrum of powers.
In particular, the new leader will have the right to appoint a prime minister, other ministers and their deputies as well as to represent Egypt on the international arena and to appoint Egyptian ambassadors to other countries. The president will also have the right to call for the elections to the parliament and approve the state budget, according to the daily.
Sunday’s presidential runoff saw Mohammed Mursi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party, competing against Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister.
The run-up to the election was marred in controversy after the Supreme Constitutional Court dissolved parliament on Thursday.
