Former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa warned on Saturday of the consequences of amending the Egyptian constitution. Egypt is “living in a state of anticipation and confusion over the vagueness surrounding the constitutional amendments that a fifth of lawmakers had submitted,” he said in a series of tweets. He warned that the “state of anticipation and confusion could develop into negativity that would affect the entire country and lead to unforeseen consequences.” Earlier this week, 155 lawmakers from the largest parliamentary coalition had presented a number of constitutional amendments, most significant of which called for increasing the presidential term from four to six years. The amendments would also allow Sisi to run for two more terms. Asharq Al-Awsat approached parliament spokesman MP Salah Hasaballah for comment on Moussa’s remarks, but his aide said that the official was unavailable at the moment. Moussa had chaired a committee that drafted the current constitution in Egypt. He said that the committee had drafted the constitution based on the recommendations of constitutional and legal experts. It then held a series of hearings that lasted an entire month. This was followed by open dialogue with various members of society. The constitution, he said, is based on a civil state, rights, respect for freedoms, regulations, sustainable development, social justice and national unity. It also calls for the independence of the judiciary, transition of power and administrative reform. Moussa urged parliament to consider “the spirit of the constitution and its foundations” when considering the amendments. He also called for holding national dialogue that addresses the amendments and allows advocates and opponents of the proposals to voice their views. “Transparency and freedom of expression are necessary in order to achieve a sound relationship with the constitution should it be amended and after its amendment,” he stressed. An Egyptian parliamentary committee approved on Tuesday proposed constitutional amendments, including a draft on extending the term of the president. The approval enjoyed the backing of over two-thirds of the members of the committee. The approval is the first step needed to move forward with the constitutional changes, which are expected to be finally endorsed by parliament and then move to a referendum within a few months. The amendments include an extension of the presidential term to six years from four in article 140 of the constitution, and a transitional clause that would reset the clock, potentially allowing President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi to stay in power until 2034, according to a draft seen by Reuters. "In order to maintain stability and to complete the development plans, there is a proposal to extend the presidential term to six years," said Abdel-Hadi el-Qassabi, head of the majority coalition in the parliament, which is sponsoring the move. Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel-Al said Sunday that the amendments "are rooted in the interest of both the state and the Egyptian people." "Conditions on the ground, the situation in the region and the nations circumstances have proven that (the current term limits) are unsuitable," he said. The proposed changes also give the president new powers over appointing judges and the public prosecutor.