| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Mubarak party members allowed to run in Egypt vote |
| 2011-11-15 |
| CAIRO: A top Egyptian court on Monday overturned a decision barring members of President Hosni Mubarak's former party from standing in a parliamentary election that starts later this month. A lower Egyptian court in the Delta city of Mansoura ruled Friday to ban members of former National Democratic Party (NDP) from running, setting off a string of lawsuits nationwide aimed at removing such candidates from the race. "Depriving (anyone) of taking up their political rights is an attack on rights that are protected and guaranteed in the constitution," said a document detailing the verdict of the Higher Administrative Court, presided by Judge Magdy El-Agaty. Backers of the candidates, who were former members of the now disbanded party, cheered the decision at the crowded court, chanting: "Allah-o-Akbar." Some waved pictures of candidates. "I dedicate this ruling to all the honorable sons of this country from all political parties not only the disbanded NDP," said Omar Hareidy, a former NDP member and candidate in Assiut. "It gives equal chances to everyone." Many former NDP members have registered to run as independents or on other party lists in the first free election in decades following an uprising that overthrew Mubarak. The first stage of the staggered vote starts on Nov. 28. Former NDP members have set up at least six new parties and many are running with older parties, angering activists who want to ensure that those they see as "counter-revolutionary" forces are kept out of the assembly which is tasked with appointing a committee to write Egypt's new constitution. |
| Posted by:Steve White |