Egyptian politicians discuss obstacles facing promulgation of municipal councils' law

CAIRO – 22 May 2023: Participants in the "Law of Municipal Councils" sessions held within the National Dialogue on Sunday disagreed on the check and balance tools that should be given to those entities, particularly in terms of withdrawing confidence from governors.

Former Governor of Alexandria Mohamed Abdel Zaher expressed rejection to giving municipal councils that authority, limiting it to heads of municipal authorities of neighborhoods and villages. He argued that governors are appointed by the president of the republic and not elected, so they should not be fired by councils.

Abdel Zaher's comments prompted the session's moderator to underscore that the constitution makes municipal councils entitled to withdrawing confidence from both governors and heads of local municipal authorities.

In that context, Board Member of the National Dialogue Amr Hashem Rabie stressed that the sessions must produce a considerable recommendation with regard to issuing a bill regulating the administration of municipalities. He lamented the absence of municipal councils in Egypt, especially that their existence is provided in the constitution.

Technical Secretary of the National Dialogue Judge Mahmoud Fawzy highlighted that not holding municipal elections is attributed to the absence of a bill that regulates the process, and that articulating such law needs hard work to ensure its alignment with the constitution.

Fawzy pointed out that the prospective total number of members of municipal councils nationwide is estimated to be 52,000, which always puts the focus on regulations pertinent to holding elections. Yet, he stipulated the equal salience of thorough thinking when designing the framework regulating municipal administration and the relationship between councils and other entities.

Head of the National project for Qualifying Youth for Municipalities and Political Participation Fathy Emad said that the law had not been promulgated because of disagreements among politicians. On another level, he called for supporting the project as it is aimed at educating Egyptian youth on municipal councils, elections, constitution articles, sustainable development, governance, digitalization, combating corruption, integrity, and transparency.

On another level, Chair of Egypt Freedom Party Tamer Sahab suggested that accomplishing decentralization is not limited to the legislations pertaining to municipal administration. Rather, it mandates many amendments and reforms relevant to laws regulating the public budget, management of new urban communities, public plan, and governmental contracting.