The two committees in charge of registering the candidates and voters who should take part in the upcoming elections for a new Coptic patriarch have decided to extend the deadline for completion of the electoral lists till the end of May.
The two committees in charge of registering the candidates and voters who should take part in the upcoming elections for a new Coptic patriarch have decided to extend the deadline for completion of the electoral lists till the end of May.
The committees were originally supposed to have had their lists ready by 17 May, two months after the passing away of Pope Shenouda III last March, according to the 1957 bylaws that govern the papal elections. However, the huge increase in the Coptic population outside Egypt has complicated the process of voter registration, since the bylaws were drawn at a time when the only Coptic substantial community outside Egypt was centered in Ethiopia and Eritrea.
As far as voters are concerned, every diocese should be represented by 12 of its laity and two clergy, with the exception of Cairo which is represented by 72 laypersons and 24 members of the clergy, and Alexandria which is represented by 24 laity and seven clergy. Eligible voters should be over 35 years of age and should qualify according to the conditions stipulated in the bylaws.
The electoral committees decided that, apart from the three United States dioceses presided over by the Bishops Anba Serapion, Anba Youssef, and Anba Michael, the US congregation will be treated as the Cairo congregation and will thus be represented by 72 laypersons. Canada and Europe will each be treated as the Alexandria diocese. Australia is represented by its Sydney and Melbourne dioceses.
The acting patriarch Anba Pachomeus of Beheira heads the 18-person candidacy commission. Anba Marqus of Shubral-Kheima, Cairo; Anba Timotheus of Zagazig; and Anba Theodosius of Giza head the electorate commission jointly with Hany Kameel and Menassa Thabet of the Coptic Orthodox Melli (Community) Council.
WATANI International
11 May 2012