|
EOHR workshop: politicians and political activists in Port Said call for drafting of new political parties law
|
15/7/2007
Participants in a workshop held yesterday in Port Said by the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR) entitled 'towards a new political parties law' called for political activity to be made more effective by allowing political parties to be formed and pursue their activities through mere notification. They also called for the annulment of the Committee on Political Parties' Affairs formed under Law 40 [1977] as amended by Law 177 [2005].
The workshop forms part of the activity of the Platform for Legislative Reform formed by EOHR in January 2007 and which will pursue its activities for two years in seven governorates (Cairo, Alexandria, Gharbeyya, Damietta, Port Said, Assiut and Qena) and seeks the amendment of domestic legislation to bring it in line with international human rights standards as contained in international human rights instruments ratified by Egypt. The Platform aims to realise this by either putting forward new draft laws necessary in the current context and which are in harmony with international human rights standards or drawing up alternative draft laws to replace existing legislation in conflict with human rights. It will also lobby for the repeal of such laws, and will discuss draft laws presented to the People's Assembly and Shura Council by inviting experts to comment on them, in order that they are eventually presented to the President of the Republic and the heads of the People's Asssembly and Shura Council.
Representatives of political parties, members of the People's Assembly and human right activists agreed on the formation of a working group which will present a national vision of a new political parties law to replace the current, flawed, law. They also underlined the importance of political parties making tools of democracy within their own organisations more effective, amending their internal organisation and limiting the maximum term party leaders may serve in the position in order that political parties have in place democratic tools for the transfer of power. Participants affirmed that the public are the ultimate arbiters of the effectiveness of any political party and its suitability and survival. For this reason the freedom to form political parties, and their freedom to pursue their activities must be fully implemented. At the forefront of this freedom is the right to hold public conferences and seminars which do not infringe public order regulations.
At the end of the workshop participants agreed on a number of recommendations, the most important of which are as follows:
1. The formation of political parties with a basis in religion or discrimination on the basis of sex or origin must be prohibited, as must any political activity on one of these grounds.
2. All property owned or rented by a political party and its charity, commercial and industrial non-profit activities must be legally exempt from all forms of taxes and general and local dues and all similar fees.
3. All established political parties, as well as those in the process of becoming established, must be legally exempt from the notarisation costs of all documents connected with the procedures surrounding the establishment of the party or the pursuit of its activities. The public treasury bears the costs of publication associated with these procedures.
4. Formation of a political party is by a request signed by 500 members, rather than the current requirement for 1000 members. These members must be drawn from ten governorates, with not less than 50 members from each one.
5. A committee on political parties' affairs should be created comprised of members of the judiciary and judicial bodies. Members of the executive and legislative branches, and members of political parties may not serve on the committee.
6. A political parties court should be created with members drawn from judicial bodies. The public prosecutor should replace the socialist public prosecutor in matters connected with political parties.
7. Political parties should enjoy the right to assemble in both public and private places as long as the exercise of this right does not interfere with public order, the circulation of traffic or pedestrians.
8. A political science programme must be implemented in all stages of education both before and during university in order to educate young people politically.
9. General conditions concerning nationality, age and military service status must govern acceptance of applications to join political parties.
|
|
