Egypt’s Media and Culture Committee yesterday approved a bill giving President Abdel Fatah Al-Sisi the right to form a new High Press Council, the Anadolu Agency reported.
The proposal is set to be issued for final approval. The Chairman of Egypt’s Press Syndicate Yehia Qalash and the current High Press Council objected the proposal.
According to Anadolu, the proposal, which was introduced by MP Mustafa Al-Bakri, was signed by 324 MPs.
The High Press Council in Egypt is responsible for nominating chief editors and heads of administrations of state-owned newspapers.
MP Osama Sharshar called for discussions to be held before the bill is approved; adding that some may see this as an “increasing policy of crackdown on the media.”
The High Press Council’s term ended in January and the term of the term of chief editors and the heads of administrations of state-owned newspapers ends this month.