By Ahmed Abbas
The International Local Joint Mission to Observe the Parliamentary Elections has observed violations of parliamentary election procedures, such as excessive spending and the use of youth centres in electoral campaigning, said Ayman Okeil, Head of the Board of Trustees at Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights, and the mission’s spokesman.
During the electoral campaigning period that began on 3 November to continue to 20 November, the mission observed five violations in Cairo, Kafr El-Sheikh, Damietta, and Daqahliya.
A number of candidates were witnessed conducting electoral rallies and tours as well as attempting to solve pending crises in their constituencies, especially in Middle Delta, in the context of their campaigning.
Others used youth centres to sponsor and organise football tournaments, where they provided prizes and urged youth to vote for them, said the mission’s statement.
The early electoral campaigning period also witnessed violent incidents between candidates. Candidates tore down each other’s campaigning banners, said Okeil.
The statement also added that some candidates are using mosques or churches to promote their electoral campaigns, by publishing their pictures with clergy in attempts to influence voters’ sympathies.
