Election Commission closes door for candidates’ applications
The Supreme Electoral Commission (SEC) extended the deadline for candidates’ applications to parliamentary elections by two days, to 19 February instead of 17 February. So far, the SEC said 5,053 candidates have applied, divided between 3,514 independent candidates and 1,439 candidates from political parties, including 312 women. Most candidates are aged between 41 and 50 years of age.
The SEC explained the elections’ schedule was amended due to recent decisions including upholding of medical check-up requirements for candidates by the Supreme Administrative Court. It was also amended so that the government’s delegation for Egyptian embassies and consulates abroad are in charge of applicants living abroad. It was realised that Egyptians living abroad might be unable to travel to Egypt for registration within due dates.
Al-Wafd Party coalition fades
Al-Wafd Party gave up on electoral coalitions and decided to move independently, seeking its inclusion on the list of “For the Love of Egypt”, led by former army generals Sameh Seif El-Yazal and Morad Mowafi. Al-Wafd’s leader El-Sayed El-Badawy had made considerable efforts to compete with this coalition, which was formerly headed by ex-prime minister Kamal El-Ganzoury.
Prominent politician and political science expert, Amr El-Shobaky, launched a new electoral coalition called “Construction” (Bena’a). El-Shobaky was member of Al-Wafd coalition. The new electoral group includes former state officials and MPs.
Liberal party boycotts elections
Misr Al-Horeya party announced Wednesday it will not participate in the coming elections citing logistical and political reasons for the boycott.
It added that the current political scene does not guarantee “freedom of political parties and fair representation”.
The party however did not forbid any of its members to run as individual in the elections, as long as “the candidate does not use the name of the party in his campaign”.
It added that the party might coordinate with “revolutionary and democratic” forces, if they are found in the parliament.
The party is part of the Democratic Current. Most of the parties in the current boycotted the elections citing undemocratic environment for participating electoral democracy.
Nasserist party to run for individual seats only
Al-Karamah Party announced it will only run for individual seats and will boycott the electoral list.
The party will participate with 50 candidates only as “the efforts to gather all coalitions into one limits competition”.
