National Council for Human Rights (NCHR) Vice President Moqbel Shaker on Sunday reiterated the council's rejection of longstanding calls for international oversight of Egyptian elections. “Egyptian civil society organizations will monitor the elections in coordination with the NCHR,” he said. “The council's position on the issue has not changed,” he added. “Board President Boutros Boutros-Ghali has stated it more than once.” On the council's proposal for legislative amendments to allow for the formation of a Supreme Electoral Committee, Shaker stressed that any such committee should include public figures known for their impartiality, integrity and public acceptance. “It should take after the Indian model,” he said. “The existing committee is chaired by the president of Egypt's Court of Appeals, which disrupts its activities every time the president is replaced after reaching retirement age,” Shaker added. “In the coming two months alone, the appeals court will have three different presidents.” He went on to say he had requested a meeting with Minister of State for Legal Affairs Mufid Shehab to discuss the role of civil society organizations in upcoming parliamentary elections and the shortcomings of recently-held Shura Council elections. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
