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RCN pauses presidential elections after rule breach

RCN pauses presidential elections after rule breach

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced its presidential elections have been paused after rules were breached.

Two candidates have been disqualified from the presidential and deputy presidential elections following complaints raised with the RCN that the rules had been violated.

Voting, which was due to start on 1 September, and campaigning have been suspended.

In a statement published on Friday, the RCN said: ‘Our overriding responsibility is to ensure that all the candidates in our trade union elections are able to campaign equally and fairly.

‘Regretfully, complaints have been raised with us concerning the upcoming president and deputy president elections. Evidence has been provided that confirms our rules have been breached.

‘The difficult decision has therefore been taken to pause campaigning and the opening of voting in these elections, and two candidates have been disqualified.’

An RCN spokesperson told Nursing in Practice the union would not name the candidates or give details on how the rules had been breached.

The successful candidates were due to be announced on 1 October, but the RCN has said a new timeline will be published.

The nominees for the presidential elections were announced earlier this month, with four candidates for president and four for deputy president. The successful candidates will hold office for two years from 1 January 2021.

Read more: RCN council chairs resign amid election scandal

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