SIX candidates have applied to run for the chairmanship of the Press Syndicate in next month's election, which is seen as key to the future of the independent union.With just one month to go before the vote, the rivals have begun sharpening their knives with many other candidates set to battle it out for the Syndicate's top post
The judicial committee supervising the professional syndicate's elections said yesterday that Makram Mohamed Ahmed (the incumbent chairman of the union), Diaa Rashwan, Mohamed Youssef el-Masri of the semi-official Al-Ahram newspaper; Magdi Abdul Ghani of Al-Akhbar newspaper; Ahmed el-Gibeli of Shabab Misr, and Sayyed el-Iskandarani of Al-Gomhuria newspaper, had applied to run for the union's top post.The race is expected to be tight between the candidates, who represent rival camps.The race will also reflect the power played between the Government on the one hand and the Islamists and independents on the other, say observers.Each candidate has started his election campaign promising his some 5,000 colleagues greater freedom of expression, higher salaries and allowances, and better services.The committee, which has cleared the six candidates to stand in the December 6 poll, said that results will be declared a day after the election.
