Psychiatrist Ahmed Bayoumi was elected as new head of Al-Dostour Party, after receiving 70% of the votes of the party members, according to the party’s spokesperson Mohamed Youssef on Friday.
Bayoumi is a founding member of the party.
The results are preliminary so far with the final result to be announced on 20 March, leaving three days for members to express their views regarding the results and file appeals if they consider it necessary.
Friday’s election followed the annulment of January’s elections that resulted in the election of journalist and activist Khaled Dawoud as party head. The elections in January, however, had been conducted under the auspices of the party’s high authority but without the supervision of the council of elders.
Dawoud’s election was rejected by a number of members, especially since there is considerable dispute between different factions of the party. His election was appealed by some party members and the appeal was forwarded to the party’s council of elders, which is considered the party’s judicial authority. The council responded to the appeal by deciding on new elections for 17 March.
However, Dawoud boycotted Friday’s election. He won the January elections uncontested as he was the only runner for the position.
The party did not have a president since former leader Hala Shukrallah completed her term and decided not to run again. Shukrallah succeeded Mohamed ElBaradei as party president and was the first Coptic woman to head a political party in Egypt.
