The Treachery Law will not be enacted before the upcoming parliamentary elections, a senior government official has said.
The draft law approved by the cabinet on 17 August has not yet been endorsed by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), the source added.
The same official told Al-Masry Al-Youm that former National Democratic Party (NDP) members will be allowed to run in the upcoming elections as long as there are no judicial rulings to prevent them from participating.
In any event, the Treachery Law does not automatically strip former members of the dissolved NDP of the right to run in elections. A separate judicial ruling will still be required for each case, the source added.
The Treachery Law, which was passed in the wake of the 1952 revolution to try ex-officials, could be activated to serve this purpose.
The law lists political and financial corruption, jeopardizing national interests and misusing political leverage as crimes.
It also allows punishments ranging from removing officials from office to banning them from running in elections or being nominated to any government body or council for a minimum of five years from the date of sentencing, according to Court of Cassation President Ahmed Mekky.
Severer sentences can include imprisonment from three to 10 years and convicts can have their citizenship rights revoked.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
