Cairo:Egypt’s parliament has voted in favor of a number of constitutional amendments that would extend the rule of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and would allow him to stay in power until 2030.

The 596-seat legislature, which is dominated by Sisi loyalists, also backed other sweeping changes to the constitution on Tuesday, including giving the military greater influence in political life as well as granting Sisi more control over the judiciary.

“The president’s current term shall expire at the end of six years from the date of his election as president in 2018,” Arabic-language al-Ahram daily newspaper and public broadcaster Nile TV reported.

“He can be re-elected for another (six-year) term,” they added.

Parliament speaker Ali Abdel Aal said 531 deputies voted for the amendments and 22 others against.

He added that amendments to the constitution were the outcome of dialogue sessions that had been in place over the past two months.

Abdel Aal, however, highlighted that a new constitution should be drafted within the next decade – signaling that Sisi may have another chance to extend his term beyond 2030.

“We need a new constitution; there is no way we will carry on without a brand new constitution within the next 10 years,” the legislator said.