OPPOSITION groups in Egypt have condemned constitutional changes they warn will “entrench repression” as authoritarian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi looked on course to tighten his grip on power.

Voting has taken place across the country over a series of amendments to Egypt’s constitution that could extend Mr Sisi’s term of office until 2030.

Opponents of the regime are urging people to reject the proposals at the ballot box.

Turnout was said to be low as polling closed late yesterday with counting underway.

The reforms are expected to pass having been agreed by the Egyptian parliament last week.

Voting took place at 10,878 polling stations across the country amid mass arrests and a media crackdown. 

Opposition MP Ahmed al-Tantawi claimed that the referendum was being held against a backdrop of intimidation and “vote buying.”

“We can say that the first two days of voting were held under the slogan the ‘ticket and the cardboard box’,” Tantawi said alleging that people were gifted grocery boxes in exchange for votes.

At least 160 activists were detained in February and March for opposing the changes that would see increased powers to the military.

The proposals would also allow Mr Sisi to run for two more six-year terms after his current second term.

Reporters Without Borders warned that Egypt is waging a “witch hunt against journalists” with a “Sisification” of the media.

“More than 500 websites have been blocked since the summer of 2017 and more and more people are being arrested because of their social network posts,” its annual report said.

International Commission of Jurists spokesman Said Benarbia said: “The amendments are a flagrant assault on the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in Egypt.

“If adopted, they will effectively place the military above the law and the constitution, and cement the executive’s subordination of judicial and prosecutorial authorities.”