The Egypt Monitor

Labor Union Elections: Restriction on Opposition Workers

Authorities are preventing workers from the opposition to run as candidates in the Labor Union elections starting on November 12. Several workers from opposition parties and forces saw their names removed from candidates lists, while others where not able to access the necessary documents to become candidates. Several demonstrations took place to protest against the practices of the ministry of labor.

On another note, Aysha Abdel-Hadi, the minister of labor, refused a request from civil society organizations to monitor the electoral process, stated that Labor Unions in Egypt are 110 years old and are mature enough not to need any form of external monitoring of their activities. An opinion not shared by the opposition.

Ministry of Justice Puting Pressures on Judges

In an attempt to control and pressure the judges, the minister of justice, Mamdouh Marei, decided to use financial tool in order to domesticate independent judges. Marei decided to cut state subsidies to the Judge's Club (JC) as well as financial services provided to the JC such as loans to buy new cars. Judges see this as a revenge of the regime for the JC role in denouncing irregularities in legislative elections and for demanding the independence of the judiciary. Marei vowed to transform the politically active and powerful JC into a place where judges would drink tea and not challenge the regime. It is Worth adding that the minister of justice, appointed earlier this year, was the head of the presidential elections commission in 2005.

Tensions in Student Unions Elections

Tensions are rising on university campuses around the country as students prepare for Student Unions elections. Students accuse security apparatus on campus of interfering in elections and preventing students from choosing their true representative. Students also criticized the law of 1979 that prevents students from engaging in political activities and makes it illegal for political parties to be present on campuses. Students all over the country hold several demonstrations, and at time clashed with security forces.

President Mubarak Agrees on Amending Article "76"

In a surprise move, president Mubarak gave an initial consent on amending controversial Article "76" of the constitution. This article was amending in 2005 to allow for the first ever multi-candidate presidential elections. However, the article also states that only parties with at least five percent of the seats in parliaments could run presidential candidates, as well as severe limitations on independent candidates. Opposition parties consider that the regime controls elections, hence control which party could get the  five percent required to have a presidential candidate. Under the current dispositions, only the ruling national Democratic Party could have a candidate if presidential elections are to take place.

President Mubarak declared that reforming Article "76" could pave the way for political parties to have candidates if presidential elections are to take place.

Opposition Parties on Constitutional Reforms

Three opposition parties decided to have a common realistic stands on constitutional reforms. The liberal Wafd, Leftist Tagammu Party and Arab Nationalist Nasserite Party decided to present their proposed constitutional amendments. All three parties maintained that the best solution would be to elect an assembly to draft a new constitution. However, if the regime refuses this option, they also presented a vision for amending the current constitution. All three parties agree on amending the following articles:

1- Article 40 to 63: should be maintained as they deal with public liberties, rights and duties of citizens.

2- Article 74: should be canceled altogether as it gives the president of the republic exceptional powers in case he/she sees that national unity or social peace are in danger.

3- Article 76: should be modified to facilitate the candidacy to the presidency of the republic instead of being an article that restricts candidacy.

4- Article 77: should be reversed to the pre-1980 constitutional amendment by limiting the terms of the president of republic to two terms instead of the current unlimited number of terms.

5- Article 88: avoiding any attempts at changing this article as it gives the judiciary the duty to oversee elections.

6- Articles 89: should be modified to force members of parliament to resign from any government or public sector position in case they are elected.

7- Article 93: strengthen the power of the judiciary- Court of "Cassation" and Higher Administrative Court- in issuing verdict in case of election irregularities in legislative elections.

8- Article 115: should be modified in a way to give the People's Assembly- Lower House- the power to modify the budget.

9- Article 127: should give the People's assembly the right to vote out the Prime minister and his cabinet without having the vote of no-confidence pending on the President's approval or popular referendum.

10- Articles 137/138: these two articles should be combined as have the president share his executive power with the prime minister.

11- Articles 147: should force the president of the republic, after approval of the the council of ministers, to get the opinion of the bureaus of one of the two houses of parliament before taking "urgent decisions".

12- Article 148: should be changed so that the president, after approval of the council of ministers, should consult with the Shura Council- Higher House- in case the People's Assembly- Lower House- is dissolved as soon as emergency law is declared. The emergency law should not exceed six month, to be extended for another six month after approval of the People's Assembly.

13- Article 173: cancellation of the Higher Council of Judicial Authorities as a way to confirm the independence of the judiciary.

14- Article 179: to cancel the Socialist Prosecutor, as a way to strengthen the unity of the judiciary and confirm the natural role of judges.

15- Article 194: should be modified as to give the Shura Council- Upper House- specific legislative powers.

16- The three political parties are calling for adding an article that would create a positive discrimination in favor of women, as to increase women's political participation.

17- The three parties are calling for adding an article that would enshrine the principal of proportional representation as a basic electoral system.

Ghad Party to Hold General Assembly

The Higher Committee of the Ghad- Tomorrow- Party will hold a meeting on November 23 to prepare for a general assembly that should vote for party reforms. The party has been led by Ambassador Ghatrifi since the detention of Ayman Nour, the party founder.

Resignations in the Nasserite Party

A number of Nasserite Party officials submited their resignation to join the Karama Party- a dynamic splinter of the Nasserite party still awaiting a license. The resignations are due to growing discontent with party leader Diaa el-Din Daoud blamed for the poor performance of the party.

Ruling Party MPs Against Quota for Women

A large number of member of parliament from the ruling National Democratic Party expressed their opposition to the creation of a quota for women in parliament. They maintained that men and women should be equal before the law, with no positive discrimination of one gender over the other. Creating extra quotas could complicate things as there already exists a 50 percent quota for farmers and workers in the parliament. However, they also stated that they could review their position if there is an increase in the number of seats in parliament, in which case they could even create a quota for youths under the age of 35.

Egypt Judges: Constitutional Reforms Should Protect Liberties

On October 4, Egypt's Judges declared that there should be a change of at least ten articles of the constitution, especially those dealing with the power of the president of the republic as well as the judiciary. They also stated that the articles related to to the supervision of the judiciary on elections should be maintained as they could protect a democratic system. The declarations came after a meeting of a committee of judges established for the study constitutional reforms.

Muslim Brotherhood Denies Internal Conflict

Dr. Mohamed Habib, first deputy-leader of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), denied allegations that there is a power struggle between him and the second deputy-leader Mohamed Khayrat al-Shatter. The latter represents the Upper Egypt- Southern Provinces- region power base of the MB and the alleged conflict was in regard to the limitation of the term of MB leader to two four year terms.