Egypt to hold constitutional referendum to draft new constitution

Egypt will hold a nationwide referendum on the new draft constitution on January 14 and 15, according to media reports that came on Saturday.

A 50-member assembly finished the draft and handed it to interim President Adly Mansour Dec 3, reports Xinhua.

The new constitution is an important pillar in the political transition roadmap drawn up by the army installed interim government 3 July 2013 after toppling Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The draft allows the authorities to switch the order of elections expected next year. The roadmap unveiled in July required parliamentary elections to be held first but the new constitution would allow a presidential election first.