Issue No. 595
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18 - 24 July 2002 Issue No. 595 Home news |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Recommend this page | ||
Elections or dissolution
Will a three-month deadline hanging over their heads prod members of the Liberal Party to take active steps to elect a chairman? Mona El-Nahhas seeks
Members of the Liberals Party have been given three months to hold a general conference to elect a new chairman. During its meeting last week, the Shura Council's Political Parties Committee, which issues licenses for new parties and dissolves others in cases of violations, called upon all contenders for the leadership of the party to put their conflicts aside and work towards this aim.
Although the committee's decision did not include an explicit warning, sources said that if the deadline expired without elections taking place, the party will be dissolved. In May 2000, the Labour Party was dissolved and the publication of its mouthpiece, Al- Shaab, banned after the power struggle within the party went out of control.
Since the death of the Liberals Party leader Mustafa Kamel Murad in August 1998, 11 distinguished members have fought over the post. In the same year, the attorney general decided to confiscate the party's headquarters after fighting and rioting inside the party's main office ended with clashing leaders exchanging gun shots.
The committee decision invoked varied reactions from the party's leadership candidates. Mohamed Farid Zakareya, one of the party's founders, viewed the decision as a "silly joke" that will further complicate the situation. Zakareya considers himself the party's sole legitimate leader, saying that he was chosen by party members.
Ragab Helal Hemeida, another contestant for the party's chairmanship and the only member of parliament representing the party, fiercely attacked the committee's decision, saying it was to blame for the deteriorating conditions prevalent in all opposition parties. Hemeida believes it would be far better if the committee picked a leader instead of asking the conflicting parties to do so on their own.
Helmi Salem, the party's secretary-general, thinks the committee decision is the first step en route to reforming the party. Salem, who is also hoping to land the job of party head, said Hemeida's suggestion was undemocratic. "The choice of a party leader is an internal affair that should be left to party members, not a semi- governmental committee. So, we have no choice but to conduct free elections that will give the final word," he said.
Salem outlined the steps expected to be taken in preparation for holding the election. "According to the party's statutes, we will open the door for nominations. Then, the 25- member secretariat-general will convene to chose only two candidates. After gaining the approval of the party's permanent committee [including 200 eminent members from the different governorates], the two candidates will run for the election."
Talaat El-Sadat, a party member and brother of late president Anwar El-Sadat, was the first to call for holding the general conference in September, offering to personally bear all the expenses.
The party's statutes, however, dictate that the secretary-general should be the one taking measures to hold the general conference. "Sadat's call is illegal. Next week I will meet with members of the secretariat-general to take the necessary measures," Salem said.
Yasser Ramadan, deputy chairman of the party and another candidate for the party's leadership, hailed the committee's decision, saying it "will help restore stability". Yet, he said the party needs to be given its headquarters back, where the membership lists and all the necessary documents for holding the election are kept.
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