(Presidency File Photo)
The Presidency has said it “cannot respond” to proposed amendments to the Presidential Elections Law due to the current situation of Egypt’s transition period.
In a written response to proposals submitted the presidency said on Saturday that it is unable to respond to the suggestions, adding that interim President Adly Mansour granted immunity to decisions taken by the Presidential Elections Commission (PEC), according to state news agency MENA.
The removal of Article 7 of the Presidential Elections Law, issued by a presidential decree, prevents citizens from appealing against decisions made by the PEC, including the final results of the anticipated presidential elections. The presidency pointed to security and economic problems in its justification for removing the article.
The controversial law has attracted much criticism, prompting the filing of an official complaint to block the presidential decree as well as disapproval from potential presidential candidates. The campaign of Hamdeen Sabahy, currently the only person who has announced a presidential run, said the law is unconstitutional and asked Mansour to reconsider.
Social rights lawyer and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali said he would not be launching a second campaign, citing the current political climate in Egypt and making a specific reference to the Presidential Elections Law. He called for it to be amended and criticised the provision requiring candidates to have received some form of higher education, adding that there are farmers and workers without university degrees that are fit to run for president.
The PEC is an independent five-member judicial body, lead by the President of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC). The current head of the committee is First Deputy President of the SCC Anwar Al-Rashad Al-Assi.
