Independent Candidate Nabs Egyptian Student Union Presidency

The Muslim Brotherhood has lost the presidency of the Egyptian Student Union (ESU), the official student body representing universities across the nation.

By a vote of 24 to 22, Banha University Student Union head Mohamed Badran – an independent – became the new ESU president.

Brotherhood student Ahmed El-Bakri, president of the Al-Azhar University Student Union, meanwhile, won the vice presidency by 24 to 23 votes.

Last year, the Muslim Brotherhood dominated the ESU after other student unions decided to boycott elections, leading to a Brotherhood landslide.

New ESU elections had been scheduled for last week, but were delayed due to disagreements between Muslim Brotherhood students and their political rivals regarding vote regulations.

The student charter, written last year by Brotherhood students, fails to provide clear voting procedures.

While Brotherhood students wanted a vote by absolute majority, others called for a 50+1 vote.

After failing to resolve the issue, this year’s vote was postponed.

In a joint statement, 13 student unions accused Brotherhood students of breaking the ballot box after it became clear that a majority of students wanted a 50+1 vote. Brotherhood students vehemently deny the allegation.

Ahram