The Egyptian parliament approved on Tuesday constitutional amendments that extend the president’s term in office from four to six years. The countrys state-run MENA news agency report that the 596-member assembly gave its final approval on Tuesday. The proposals include an article to extend President Abdul Fattah’s al-Sisi’s current term, second term to six years and allow him to run for another six-year term in 2024. Mohamed Abu Hamed, a member of parliament who pushed for the amendments, said the changes were needed to allow Sisi to complete political and economic reforms. "The constitution in 2014 was written under tough exceptional circumstances," he told AFP. He hailed Sisi as a president who "took important political, economic and security measures... (and) must continue with his reforms," in the face of the unrest gripping neighboring countries. State-run Al-Ahram news website said several MPs carried Egyptian flags as they gathered for the vote inside the parliament while nationalistic songs played in the background. Deputies also backed other sweeping changes to the constitution including to give the military greater influence in political life, as well as granting Sisi more control over the judiciary. The amendments now face a national referendum, likely before early May when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts.