By Tamim Elyan
CAIRO: Al-Wafd Party said its candidates have been harassed in most constituencies across Egypt and their representatives were forced to leave polling stations as Egyptians voted in the parliamentary elections Sunday.
Al-Sayed Al-Badawy, chairman of the party, said however that the party will not drop out of the race.
In Daqahleya, in Nabaroh, gunfire targeted the party’s candidate, Fouad Badrawy, but no injuries were reported; meanwhile in Atmil, one representative was stabbed with a knife allegedly by National Democratic Party (NDP) thugs, according to Al-Wafd.
“The elections are going really bad; candidates were forced out of most voting stations and fraud in favor of NDP is prevalent,” Margeret Azer, head of the party’s committee supervising the elections, told Daily News Egypt.
In Menufiya’s Al-Bagor, voting stations were closed as votes were being rigged inside, according to Azer. Two polling stations were also closed in Dokki, Giza.
Azer also said that clashes took place in a number of constituencies.
She added that votes are going in the NDP’s favor all over the country.
Meanwhile, Al-Badawy said that major violations were limited to certain constituencies and that they left it up to the candidates to drop out of the elections if they feel that it is not fair and that they can’t compete.
“Until now, we haven’t received any requests from any of our candidates to quit the elections,” Al Badawy said.
“We can’t announce the withdrawal of the party from the elections and affect the chances of our 210 candidates — many of whom are public figures and party leaders — but we left it up to them to quit,” he added.
