The Administrative Court has approved a lawsuit that demands the suspension of the Journalists Syndicate's decision to set Friday as the date for elections.
The elections were for the syndicate chief post and six board seats, as well as to open the door for nominations for the rest of the seats.
Diaa Rashwan, current chairman of the syndicate, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the syndicate will appeal the verdict at the Supreme Administrative Court, saying that it clearly intervened with the powers of the legislator.
Sayyed abu Zeid, the syndicate’s legal advisor, rejected the verdict and said he would challenge it.
Meanwhile, Abdel Mohsen Salama, a member of the Al-Ahram institution’s board who joined the lawsuit, approved the verdict considering it a victory for journalists. He said he will take part in the coming elections after nominations for the chief and board members seats are re-opened.
Journalist Ashraf Anwar and a number of the syndicate members had filed a lawsuit demanding the suspension of the elections. They argued that Article 43 of the syndicate’s law stipulates that board members hold seats for a total of four years. Half of the members are elected every two years, thereby setting a two-year elections schedule rotating between each half of the board.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
