CAIRO, December 25 (RIA Novosti) - Egypt’s draft constitution was approved by more than 60 percent of voters, Supreme Electoral Commission Samir Abu El-Maati said on Tuesday.
“63.8 percent supported the new constitution and 36.2 percent voted against,” El-Maati said in a live broadcast on the national TV to announce the final results of the two-stage referendum.
The first stage of the referendum was held December 15 and covered ten Egyptian provinces. The second stage took place on Saturday in 17 Egyptian provinces.
More than 17 million out of the country’s 50 million registered voters cast their ballot.
Elections of a new parliament are to be held in a few months after the new constitution is approved, ending the transitional period that has lasted since Hosni Mubarak’s almost thirty-year-long presidency was ended by the January 2011 uprising.
The referendum date, as well as President Mohamed Morsi’s controversial constitutional declaration have ignited Egypt's worst political crisis since Morsi's election in June.
Egypt's main opposition coalition, the National Salvation Front, said on Sunday it would appeal the results of the country’s referendum, citing “fraud and violations.”
