Businessman Ayman Al-Gamil praises gov't decisions to run Senate election

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Sat, 04 Jul 2020 - 06:08 GMT

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Sat, 04 Jul 2020 - 06:08 GMT

CAIRO – 4 July 2020: Businessman Ayman al-Gameel praised the government decision to run elections for the Senate, deeming it “a new celebration for democracy.”
 
Mr. Gameel further said the new system guarantees justice and equal opportunities between independents and party members, and provides free space for competition and balanced representation for all groups and parties, especially with allocating at least 10% of seats to women.
 
Moreover, third of the members, will be appointed by the president, which guarantees representation of the groups that may choose not to contest in the elections or who are unable to enter the new Assembly of Experts and Competencies through the ballot box.
 
He said that all of this affirm that Egypt is a state of strong and coherent institutions, and that it fulfills all legal procedures and requirements in conjunction with the commitment of taking utmost caution and preparedness in facing the epidemic situation inside, or fears and threats on several regional axes.
 
He also added that such step emphasizes the seriousness of the state in completing the democratic path and strengthening the role of state institutions, as well as its ability to fulfill constitutional benefits and components of normal life despite the current circumstances.
 
“With that state of stability and performance at a stable natural pace, Egypt proves that it is up to the exceptional circumstance and challenges, and reveals its ability to complete its institutions and practice its democratic traditions without being affected by any economic and political pressures and the confusion and fluctuations in the region and the world,” he added.
 
Egypt will hold elections for the Senate on Aug 11-12, election commissioner Lasheen Ibrahim told a televised press conference on Saturday.
 
Committees set in various governorates will begin receiving and studying candidacy applications starting 9:00 am until 5:00 pm for a week starting from next Saturday until July 18 this month.
 
According to the schedule, elections will be held outside Egypt on Sunday and Monday corresponding (August 9 and 10), and will be held inside Egypt on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 11 and 12).
 
He also pointed out that in case of a re-election, elections will be held abroad on Sunday and Monday (September 6 and 7), and in Egypt on Tuesday and Wednesday (September 8 and 9).
 
A statement issued by the Election Authority on Thursday said the government works is in full swing in preparation for securing the voting process and determining its duration from beginning to end as well as nomination dates and ballot stations.
 
The election process is to be carried out amid high precautionary measures to guarantee the safety of citizens casting their ballots due to the current pandemic, the statement read.
 
Four laws were ratified by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Thursday governing legislative elections and the formation of the Senate, the country’s new Upper house of parliament.
 
The laws include House of Representatives Law 46/2014, and two other laws on the Exercise of Political Rights (Law 45/2014) and the Performance of the National Election Committee (Law 198/2017).
 
According to the Senate law, two thirds of the chamber will be elected in a direct secret ballot through a closed-list system and individual system, while the remaining third will be appointed by the president. 
 
It has been also stipulated that women should have no less than 10 percent of Senate seats.
 
The amendments to the House of Representative Law states that the number of the House's elected MPs shall stand at 568, instead of 540, in line with Article 102 of Egypt's 2019-amended constitution.
 
The number of the House's elected MPs was increased to 568, from 540, in line with Article 102 of the constitution.
 
Article 3 of the 2019 amendments to the House law stipulates that 25 percent of the total number of the House's seats shall be reserved for women.
 
Moreover, the president shall be authorized to appoint no more than five percent of the total number of MPs.

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