Lawyers vowed to begin a general work stoppage on Saturday in protest of a government-backed decision to delay association elections. The elections were originally scheduled for 1 July, but have been dogged by procedural wrangling. In order to force the issue, the lawyers warned that other measures will follow unless, within a week, the government sets a new election date. Lawyers expressed their determination to continue sit-in strikes, which started 10 days ago, in all governorates until a solution is reached. Advocate ire against the government has cut across party lines within the Bar Association.
Lawyers blame the government for attempting to impose certain candidates on the syndicate council.
Lawyers charge that the government is attempting to coerce them into electing Raga'i Attiya as syndicate chairman. Sameh Ashour, who is also a candidate for the chairmanship, urged the judiciary not to take sides in the conflict between the government and the lawyers. Originally, the protests were triggered by a dispute about the locations of polling stations. During preparations for the election, the judicial committee decided to set up polling stations at youth centres, social clubs, companies and governmental departments. Nasser challenged these polling stations on constitutional grounds.