[6] Security services planned "wide-reaching arrest campaigns of civilian public figures from across the political spectrum" as a method of "not [tolerating] dissent on any scale regarding the amendments".

[3] Further amendments make the parliament a bicameral body, with the Shura Council abolished in 2014 restored as the Senate, which would consist of 120 elected members and 60 appointed by the president.

[3] The proposals were supported by Free Egyptians Party MP Mohamed Abu Hamed, who claimed el-Sisi needed more time in office to continue reforms.

The New Arab reported: "Pro-government media, business people and lawmakers had pushed for a "Yes" vote and a high turnout, with many offering free rides and food handouts to voters, while authorities threatened to fine anyone boycotting the three-day referendum.

If adopted, the amendments would weaken the rule of law, further erode fair trial guarantees and enshrine impunity for members of the Egyptian Armed Forces.

"[18] While National Election Authority chairman Lashin Ibrahim talked about "forces of darkness and evil" which boycotted the referendum in order "to destroy the democratic atmosphere in which it took place,"[19] prominent Egyptian writer Alaa Al-Aswany, in an opinion piece on Deutsche Welle Arabic, provided reasons for why the referendum was "void, unconstitutional and undemocratic, describing el-Sisi as a "military dictator (Arabic: ديكتاتور عسكري) exercising unprecedented repression upon people.