The Administrative Court Postpones Hearing on Al-Dostour Party’s Appeal Against the Political Parties Affairs Committee’s Declaration of a Leadership Vacancy to November 30

The Administrative Court of the State Council has postponed the initial hearing of the appeal submitted by Gamila Ismail, President of the Al-Dostour (Constitution) Party, contesting the Political Parties Affairs Committee’s decision declaring the party’s leadership position vacant and requiring new elections. The hearing, originally set for today, October 12, 2024, has been rescheduled for November 30, to allow the Commissioners’ Authority to submit its legal report on the case.

The appeal, registered under case number 98911 of judicial year 78, challenges decision no. 87 of 2024, issued by the Political Parties Affairs Committee, which determined that Ismail’s term as party president had concluded and ordered the party to hold new elections. Al-Dostour Party maintains that this decision contradicts the provisions of its 2018 bylaws, which had been previously approved by the same committee.

In a statement, Ismail described the decision as legally flawed, contending that the committee relied on an entity no longer recognized within the party’s organizational structure—namely the “General Conference”—which had been dissolved and replaced with new bylaws in November 2018. She further pointed out that her election as party president had been validated by the Political Parties Affairs Committee following the General Assembly held in July 2022.

Ismail also argued that the committee had exceeded its mandate by interfering in the party’s internal affairs, such as rejecting notifications submitted by the party concerning the opening of a new bank account, the licensing of the party’s website, and the election of new members to leadership positions. She emphasized that the General Assembly, as the party’s supreme authority, is the sole body authorized to make such decisions.

Ismail concluded by stating that the Political Parties Affairs Committee’s decision constitutes a clear violation of the Constitution and the law, both of which explicitly prohibit any administrative authority from intervening in the internal matters of political parties or influencing the decisions of their General Assemblies. She warned that this decision sets a dangerous precedent, threatening the legal rights of political parties and echoing practices seen before the January Revolution, when the Political Parties Affairs Committee routinely overreached and interfered in political life.