Law suit to force filling the office of vice president in Egypt

The Egyptian state council court yesterday postponed considering the case on forcing an appointment of a Vice President to the country, which it currently lacks, in responce to a suit filed by lawyer Issam al-Islambuli, until February 17, 2004 in order to give more memorandums.

Al-Islambuli based his case, which is considered the first of its kind in Egypt, on the fact the Egyptian constitution has set specializations for the office of Vice President, which means the necessity to have the position be occupied in order to carry out these duties.

Article 139 of the Egyptian constitution, and also articles ( 82 and 83), state that the President is to appoint one or more deputies. Since he assumed power in 1981, the Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, had not appoint a deputy for himself.

On July 29, the court postponed considering this case and gave defendant for the government a period until November 11 for giving defense to its position.

The case came at a time when the Egyptian political arena is witnessing a heated debate on the manner of authority transfer in hte country in case the post of the President becomes vacant.

In earlier statements, al-Islambuli said that appointing a vice president has become an urgent matter, especially with the approaching end of the fourth term of office of President Mubarak.