Court dissolves Egypt's former ruling party

Court dissolves Egypt's former ruling party

2011-04-17 00:59:56 GMT+7 (ICT)

CAIRO (BNO NEWS) -- A Cairo court on Saturday ordered the dissolving of Egypt's former ruling party and the confiscation of its assets, Ahram Online reported.

The Supreme Administrative Court (SAC) ruled that the 33-year-old National Democratic Party (NDP) be dissolved, after activists have been pressing for months for the party's abolition. It also ordered the return of the party's assets, including its central headquarters in Cairo and provincial offices in 29 governorates, to the government. 

According to a report prepared by SAC legal officers, the NDP violated the values and principles upon which it was founded back in August 1978. It said the party opted to monopolize power, and spread political corruption and abuse of rights.

The report also argued that the NDP's senior leaders exploited their leading positions to accumulate vast fortunes and created an illicit marriage with business tycoons who invaded the party's ranks for personal and financial interests.

The order came as former president and head of the NDP Hosni Mubarak was transported from Sharm El-Sheikh International Hospital to a hospital outside Cairo to face further investigation into allegations of corruption and ordering the killing of peaceful protesters. Throughout his 30 years of rule, Mubarak ignored numerous calls from opposition forces to open up the NDP, and in 2000 appointed his younger son Gamal as chairman of the party's influential Policies Committee and then assistant secretary-general in February 2006. 

The SAC order also comes after several NDP senior leaders were remanded in custody on murder and corruption charges.

Yehia El-Gammal, deputy prime minister, told Ahram Online that the NDP lost legitimacy after the January 25 Revolution. He admitted that the protests organized in Tahrir Square on 1 and 8 April speeded up the dissolution of the NDP.

Earlier this month, hundreds of Egyptians defied soldiers who tried to disperse them from Tahrir Square and vowed to keep protesting until ex-President Mubarak is prosecuted and other demands met. At least one person was killed, 71 injured, and 42 arrested.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-17