For now, at least, it's full steam ahead for Bar Association elections, reports Mona El-Nahhas As decreed by the judicial committee supervising elections at professional syndicates the registration period for Bar Association elections, scheduled for 23 May, closed on Sunday. The committee, headed by Farouk Sultan, announced that 22 candidates will compete for the post of syndicate chairman and 217 for places on the 41-seat council. Islamist lawyer Mokhtar Nouh, whose membership of the syndicate was revoked by Sultan late last week, had been among the chairmanship candidates. Sultan's decision to strip Nouh of his membership on the grounds that he had served a three- year prison sentence after being convicted by a military court in 1999, has caused resentment among lawyers. Immediately after being informed of the decision Nouh filed a lawsuit before the Administrative Court requesting Sultan's committee be replaced on the grounds that it is partisan. In his appeal, which will be heard on 27 April, Nouh also asks for elections to be halted until all related lawsuits have been heard. Several lawyers have appealed to the courts, complaining of irregularities in voters' lists. The cases are pending. Elections at the Bar Association have been twice halted by administrative Court rulings, first in October 2008 and then in January 2009. In its the first ruling the Administrative Court said Law 100/1993 regulating polls at professional syndicates had been misapplied. It cited irregularities in voters' lists as the reason for the second delay. There are fears that such appeals would cause polls to be stopped for the third time. "Instead of omitting my name from voters' lists it would have been better for the committee to remove the names of lawyers who are dead," Nouh told Al-Ahram Weekly. "Sultan's decree has no solid legal basis. It just aims at helping the government's preferred candidate." Nouh was referring to his rival Sameh Ashour who, despite Nasserist leanings, is rumoured to enjoy the support of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP). Obsessed with preventing Islamists from controlling professional syndicates Ashour, whose hostility towards the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood (MB) is no secret, seems to be the government's best bet. With Nouh, who enjoys wide popularity among lawyers, excluded from the contest, Ashour's chances of securing the post of chairman have been boosted. Ashour denies that he is the government's candidate, accusing his competitors of deliberately spreading the rumour. During meetings with lawyers Ashour has repeatedly denied that he enjoys official backing, suggesting that if anyone enjoys government support it is his rival Ragaai Attia, who is a member of the NDP. Not many lawyers are convinced. Attia's alliances with the MB in the 2001 and 2005 syndicate elections are assumed to have cost him any government support, though in the coming poll it is not yet clear whether or not the MB will give him their backing. The MB usually reveals the name of their favoured nominee just hours before the vote. Submitting his nomination papers last week Attia was at pains to suggest he was neither the government nor the MB candidate. "I am the candidate of all lawyers, regardless of their political affiliation. I'll be grateful to whoever gives me his vote. It does not matter to which party he belongs." Attia pledged to work to improve conditions at the syndicate, accusing former chairman Ashour of wasting public money. Independent lawyer Hamdi Khalifa, former chairman of the syndicate's Giza branch, is also a possible contender. Khalifa has a record of improving services offered to Giza members. He is regarded by many lawyers as a candidate capable of steering reform. Liberal-oriented lawyer Talaat El-Sadat is also running, though many expect he will withdraw from the contest and back Khalifa. Any split in the independent vote is likely to favour Ashour, and some lawyers fear El-Sadat's penchant for confrontation with the regime will harm their interests. The MB is, as usual, targeting council seats rather than the post of chairman.
