By Nada Nader
Cairo’s Administrative Judiciary Court scheduled a session Tuesday to look into the five appeals presented by head of the Press Syndicate Diaa Rashwan and other members of the syndicate council.
The appeals came after meeting with the head of the State Council Monday.
The court’s decision to dissolve the “partial elections” in the Press Syndicate came after an appeal presented by lawyer Ashraf Anwer was accepted by the court. The elections were due to be held on 6 March.
The planned partial elections were set to take place over six syndicate council members’ seats, and to select the new head of the syndicate. The appeal rejected the plan, demanding instead full elections for all seats.
Reactions toward the decision to dissolve the elections among journalists varied between support and outcry.
The court dissolved the elections with the aim of holding them on all the syndicate council’s seats, which number 12 in total, as well as selecting the head of the syndicate.
The Press Syndicate is considered one of the country’s most important institutions, contributing to the formation of public opinion.
Essam Omran, a syndicate member and Editor-in-Chief of Horaity magazine commented on the appeal presented by the lawyer as an “unfair desire”. He said that seats cannot be taken from council members who have the right to stay.
“This is lawlessness here,” Omran said.
Sayed Abo El-Yazed, the syndicate’s legislative consultant, said the court has no power in amending the syndicate rules, noting that a council of representatives or the declaration of a new law by the president are the only cases that have the rights to do so.
Sayed El-Manaily, a candidate and a member of the syndicate for over 15 years , said he respects the judiciary and is awaiting the result of the appeal. He noted that he is a candidate who will continue with his intention in the election to provide services for syndicate members.
