CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's election commission says voters have approved constitutional amendments allowing President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi to remain in power until 2030.
The referendum was widely seen as another step toward restoring authoritarian rule eight years after a pro-democracy uprising that toppled autocratic president Hosni Mubarak.
Lasheen Ibrahim, the head of the commission, said Tuesday the amendments were approved with 88.83 percent voting in favor. The turnout was 44.33 percent of eligible voters. The nationwide referendum took place over three days, from Saturday through Monday to maximize turnout.
Pro-government media, business people and lawmakers had pushed for a "Yes" vote and a high turnout, offering incentives while authorities threatened to fine anyone boycotting the three-day voting.
Authorities have waged a wide-scale crackdown on dissent since el-Sissi led the military overthrow of an elected but divisive Islamist president in 2013.