When Does the Presidency End in Egypt? Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi Clarifies the Constitutional Provisions

10:39 PM

Sunday, June 11, 2023

Books – Muhammad Abu Al-Magd:

Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi, head of the technical secretariat of the National Dialogue, said that some thought that the term of the actual presidency ends on June 30, and this is contrary to the Egyptian constitution, stressing that according to the current constitution, the term of the presidency ends according to Article 241 bis of the constitution within six months. Years from the date of announcing the presidential elections.

Fawzi continued, during a telephone conversation with media personality Lamees Al-Hadidi, on the “Last Word” program, on Sunday evening: “Referring to the decision of the National Elections Authority, we find that the president assumed the reins of power on April 2, 2018, and that talking about holding early presidential elections is not correct and the president is completing his term.” The constitutional presidency is 6 years.

Counselor Mahmoud Fawzi stressed that, according to these data, there are no early or late presidential elections, but constitutional elections on time specified in the constitution through two articles, the first is Article 140, which states that the term of the President of the Republic is 6 years, and presidential elections must begin 120 days before the expiry of the term. the presidency, and then Article 2, which stipulates that the results of the presidential elections must be announced a month before the end of the presidential term, which means that the constitution made sure that there is no vacuum in the presidential term.

He went on to say, “Article 241 bis in the 2019 constitutional amendments was tantamount to amending the presidential term from four years and became six years, ending with the expiration of 6 years from the date of announcing his election as President of the Republic, and then the announcement took place on April 2, 2018, and this is the end point.”

Mahmoud Fawzi indicated that, accordingly, the results of the upcoming presidential elections must be announced before next March 1, and the maximum limit for filing for elections is December 1, 2023. But the deadline for opening nominations for the presidential elections is December 1.

The head of the technical secretariat concluded the national dialogue: the meaning of the word “presidential elections begin” is to announce the opening of the door for candidacy, and constitutionally it is not possible for elections to begin after December 2023. The final result of the presidential elections must be announced before March 30.