Egypt court halts Press Syndicate midterm elections, syndicate plans to appeal

Sunday 01-03-2015 07:00 PM
Egypt court halts Press Syndicate midterm elections, syndicate plans to appeal

Journalists including the head of the Press Syndicate Diaa Rashwan (L) participate in a silent protest against militancy and in solidarity with the victims of an attack on the military that led to at least 30 deaths, in Cairo, February 1, 2015. REUTERS/Mohamed Abd El Ghany

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CAIRO, Mar 1 (Aswat Masriya) - An administrative court decided to suspend midterm elections of the Press Syndicate on Sunday, a decision that the syndicate plans to appeal.

The court accepted a case filed by several members of the syndicate, in which they requested halting the midterm elections and holding elections for all seats of the syndicate's board.

The midterm elections would see candidates run for the position of the head of the syndicate and for six of the board's 12 seats. The polling was scheduled for Friday.   

Legal adviser of the syndicate, lawyer Sayed Abu Zeid said he intends to appeal the court's decision but added that until a decision on the appeal is made, the elections will not be held. 

He added that the syndicate is holding an emergency meeting to discuss the verdict and its implications. 

Abu Zeid believes that the court's decision "usurped" the authority of the legislator by amending legislation, "which is not part of its authority," since legal amendments should either take place through parliament or through presidential decrees. 

In the details of the ruling, the court said according to the law, the term of the syndicate's board expires every four years and the term of half of the board's members expires in two years by holding midterm elections.  

The court said elections were held in 2011 over all 12 seats of the syndicate's board. Then in 2013, midterm elections were held, replacing half of those elected two years before.

"Therefore, a new board and chairman must be elected," the court said. 

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