The Socialist Popular Alliance Party (SPAP) announced, Friday, their participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections following a vote in the party’s central committee.
The 75% in favour vote has changed the party’s previous stance of boycotting the elections, a decision taken before the postponement of the elections in March.
The SPAP’s previous stance came after party member Shaimaa Al-Sabbagh was participating in an announced march from the party’s headquarters in Talaat Harb to Tahrir Square to put flowers in commemoration of the 25 January Revolution’s martyrs. The police immediately dispersed the group using birdshots and tear gas, which resulted in her injury and death.
Medhat Al-Zahed, SPAP’s interim-chairman, told Daily News Egypt on Saturday that the party’s political bureau will meet on Monday to discuss the party’s situation regarding joining electoral alliances. During the meeting, they will also receive candidate files for the individual system seats.
“The party will not join forces with any camp that fosters symbols of corruption of the Mubarak era, and those who label people as unbelievers or traitors,” Al-Zahed said.
He added that the broad umbrella the party will participate the elections under is the 25 January Revolution and its concepts.
He added that whether the party will eventually have parliamentary representatives or not, it will oppose a number of the legislations passed under President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as the sole source for legislation. These include the controversial protest law, the anti-terrorism law, and the law giving the president mandate to dismiss heads and members of independent bodies and regulatory agencies.
The left-leaning party is closer to join forces with parties showing loyalty to the principles of the 25 January Revolution, such as the Al-Dostour Party and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party.
