Shura Council agrees women first 4 candidates on any given electoral list

Electoral lists must include women amongst the top four candidates according to an article of the new elections law approved by the Shura Council The Shura Council approved in its Wednesday session an article in the elections law that stipulates that women must be included amongst the first four candidates on any given electoral list in the upcoming parliamentary elections expected in April, according to Ahram Arabic website. The article stirred debate and disagreement within the legislative body as the Salafist El-Nour Party opposed it, considering it discriminatory. Others, however, argued for the law, considering it an instrument of positive discrimination that empowers women. Head of the Shura Council Ahmed Fahmy put the article forward for voting Wedsneday, and it was approved by 103 to 82.   The last parliament, which was dissolved by court ruling, contained a surprisingly low number of women although party lists were obliged by law to include at least one woman candidate. From Ahramonline