CAIRO: Egyptian activists have launched a campaign to reject the newly drafted parliamentary electoral laws that the Council of Ministers announced last Thursday. Authorities in Egypt angered many when they unilaterally announced the redrafted laws, redistricted Egypt's 183 electoral districts and announced a timeline for elections. Many feel that their demands have gone unheard. Activists claim that the newly announced laws will make it more difficult for candidates to organize election campaigns, believing also that new laws will skew votes in the favor of former National Democratic Party (NDP) candidates. Those campaigning against the newly drafted laws are collecting signatures from policy makers, citizens and leaders across the country who want to scrap the revised laws. The new law abolishes a previously enforced workers and farmers quota, intended to diversify political representation in the People's Assembly and the Shura Council. The new draft also mandates that female candidates may not appear at the top of electoral party lists. This angered many who were already concerned about an under-representation of women in upcoming elections after officials scrapped an existing women's quota for elections in July. Activists hope to start fresh with new election procedures, expressing a preference for a system that is entirely based on a proportional party list vote. “We are trying to pressure the Council to change the law. We support a 100 percent proportional party list, where women account for at least one third of the seats,” said Afaf Marei, the Executive Director of Mosharaka, an Egyptian election-monitoring NGO. “The individual candidacy system will only support businessmen and former NDP candidates who use fraud and bribery,” she added. An Egyptian journalist in Cairo told Bikyamasr.com that she had a different perspective, however. “How can you vote for a party without knowing exactly who will represent you?” she asked. “People need to be able to vote for a local individual, with whom they are familiar and comfortable,” she argued. Activists and politicians will continue to work toward an agreed-upon election framework. Elections for the People's Council, the lower house of Egypt's parliament, are now set for November 21. The Shura Council election will follow on January 22. The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) must approve the dates, but that is likely to happen in the next few days. BM
