Parliament to discipline 25-30 Alliance MP Ahmed Tantawi

CAIRO – 3 July 2017: Parliament’s Disciplinary Committee recommended on Sunday to deprive Ahmed Tantawi, a member of the parliamentary bloc 25-30 Alliance, from attending the next legislative session following investigations into his alleged misconduct.

Tantawy is faces charges of violating parliament’s internal regulations and breaching his membership duties due to his actions against the Speaker of the House of Representatives Ali Abdul Aal and the Head of the Egyptian Geographic Association.

These violations were committed during the parliament’s discussion sessions on the Egyptian-Saudi border demarcation agreement concerning the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir in mid-June.

The committee made its recommendation following an investigation into the parliamentarian and hearing his testimonies regarding two complaints filed against him.
Investigations started with Tantawi on Sunday, initiated by Abdul Aal on 19 June after Tantawi did not attend the Parliament Bureau despite being summoned twice.

The first complaint, which was filed by parliament’s Legislative and Constitutional Affairs Committee, included video evidence of Tantawi committing verbal violations against the parliament speaker.

Concerning the second complaint, it reported that Tantawi intentionally dropped his microphone on the ground in a move of defiance while the head of the Egyptian Geographic Association was giving a statement about the agreement.

Tantawi expressed criticism of parliament’s views and explanations regarding the border agreement during the sessions. The independent MP was among those who rejected the agreement.

The discussion sessions witnessed disputes between opposing and supporting parliamentarians towards the agreement.

Other members of the 25-30 Alliance were also summoned to the Parliament Bureau regarding their misconduct during the session. A number of parliamentarians chanted against the agreement and expressed opposition towards it.