CAIRO: One hundred independent and opposition MPs held a joint press conference on Monday in front of the People's Assembly calling for the discussion of a new law they drafted which lays the foundations for the elections. The draft Political Rights Law was discussed at the event that brought together politicians and political activists. "The law lays the foundation of an election process that is full of integrity, freedom and democracy, said MP Gamal Zahran, spokesperson of the independent bloc at the PA. The MPs called on Parliament Speaker Ahmed Fathi Sorour to discuss the draft law at the PA so that it could be passed before the end of the final session of the current PA, which concludes this year. "We hope it is passed before the parliamentary elections this year, said Zahran. In the 94-article draft law, the MPs are pushing for electronic voting using the national ID numbers, which will also give Egyptians abroad a chance to participate. The law also puts the judicial system in charge of the entire electoral process, starting with the lists of the voters' names up until the announcement of the results. It would also bar children of the head of state and other senior government officials from running for the presidency.
