Egypt’s political milestones

A broad coalition of opposition groups in Egypt has called for a new “revolutionary wave” to last until the end of March as protests take place across the country to mark the third anniversary of the 2011 constitutional referendum.

The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy is behind the campaign. The group is demanding what it is calling the return of “constitutional legitimacy” and the ideals of the 2011 revolution, including “freedom and social justice”.

The protests have been happening as the largest trial in Egypt’s history gets underway. Twelve hundred supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi are facing charges stemming from violence in August. Among the accused is the Muslim Brotherhood’s General Guide Mohamed Badie.

Egypt has revised its constitution three times since the 2011 revolution. The landmark first vote won 77 percent approval, but was only ever meant to be an interim constitution, and was criticised for giving the military full presidential powers.

The second was hurriedly signed into law by Morsi in December 2012. It was passed with 64 percent of the public vote, but criticised as an “Islamist’s Constitution”.

The latest in January gained 98 percent approval, but turnout was just 38 percent, with criticism focused on a failure to protect civil rights and for granting more power to the presidency.

These have all been turning points for Egypt, but in which direction?

Presenter: Jane Dutton

Guests: Adel Iskandar – a professor at the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies at Georgetown University and Author of ‘Egypt in Flux’

Carool Kersten – a senior lecturer in the study of Islam and the Muslim World at Kings College

Abdul Mawgoud Dardery – foreign affairs spokesman for the Freedom and Justice Party, and a former member of the Egyptian Parliament