Egypt

Parliament approves Presidential Elections Law amendments

Parliament has introduced amendments to the Presidential Elections Law on Monday that are meant to ensure that no forgery takes place.

According to the amendments, polling station workers must give candidates copies of the results that have been stamped and signed by the manager of the polling station. The same procedures will be applied to polling stations abroad.

A new article was added to the law, prohibiting commission members from appointment to political posts or in Parliament.

Another amendment recognizes birth and the military service certificates as documents of proof of Egyptian citizenship.

“The Supreme Constitutional Court will decide on the amendments in 15 days, a decision that will be binding for all,” said Parliament Speaker Saad al-Katatny.

MP Mostafa al-Guindy said the amendments are useless as long as Article 28 of the Constitutional Declaration says the decisions of the elections commission are final and cannot be appealed.

But Parliament rejected proposals by MPs to enable them the challenge the decisions of the Presidential Elections Commission.

On Wednesday, Major General Mokhtar al-Mulla, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, ruled out the possibility of introducing amendments to the controversial article, however many legal experts and political parties voiced concern over the transparency of elections held under the article.

"Article 28 of the Constitutional Declaration has the force of law and cannot be canceled by the force of bullying," Mulla said in a press conference.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

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