Ex-army chief Sisi submits bid for Egypt's presidency - spokesman
14 April 2014, 15:45 -- Egypt's ex-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Monday officially submitted his bid to run for president, with his lawyer handing over the required documents to the authorities, a spokesman said. Sisi, who is riding on a wave of popularity after ousting Islamist leader Mohamed Morsi in July, is widely expected to win the May 26-27 election.
The 59-year-old had declared his intention to run for president in late March.
'Lawyer Abu Shoqa submitted the required documents on behalf of Sisi that include endorsements by citizens, medical reports, and an application for his candidacy,' Ahmed Kamel said, AFP reports.
Under Egyptian law, candidates hoping to run for president need to collect at least 25,000 signatures. Sisi has already received more than 460,000 signatures from citizens across the country endorsing his candidacy.
The electoral commission is to announce the final field of candidates on May 2, and official campaigning starts a day later.
Leftist leader Hamdeen Sabbahi and Mortada Mansour, a harsh critic of activists who led the 2011 revolt against Hosni Mubarak, have also declared their intention to stand for president.
European Union monitors will supervise next month's election.
Sisi ousted Morsi after millions of people took to the streets protesting against the Islamist's single year of turbulent rule.
Former Egypt President Mubarak supports Sisi's presidential bid
Mubarak criticised Sisi's main rival, Hamdeen Sabahi, describing him as 'not capable of becoming Egypt's president'. He also expressed caution about the Muslim Brotherhood's reaction to a Sisi presidency, warning that the country needed to maintain a 'high degree of vigilance'.
Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has received backing for his presidential bid from former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, an Egyptian news website reported.
The leader who was removed from office after a popular uprising in February 2011 told a reporter from Al-Masry Al-Youm during a phone interview to 'vote for Sisi' and that there was no option 'other than than him'.
Sisi, who overthrew Egypt's first freely elected President Mohamed Morsi in a coup last summer, served as a military attache to Saudi Arabia during Mubarak's rule. In March, he resigned from his post as defence minister and announced his intention to stand in May 26-27 presidential elections after months of speculation saying it was the 'will of the people'.
Mubarak, Morsi may be amnestied in case al-Sisi wins Egypt election
In case of victory in the presidential election in Egypt, Defense Minister Abdul Fattah al-Sisi might amnesty former presidents of the country – Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Morsi. Al Murakib information edition reported Wednesday that al-Sisi is 'looking into the matter'.
According to a source in al-Sisi's inner circle, an amnesty of the ex-presidents would be a very important step, contributing to reconciliation with islamist movements.
Although the Muslim Brotherhood movement has been put on a list of terrorist organizations in Egypt, an amnesty for Morsi and some other high-rank members of the movement, such as Mohammed Badie, Issam al-Aryan, Mohammed al-Beltagi, could help stabilize the situation in the country and put a halt to endless riots and protests, TASS reports.
Hosni Mubarak and Mohamed Morsi are accused of different crimes, including those connected with resort to violence during the numerous riots, that have been taking place in the country in recent years.
Egypt's presidential election scheduled for late May
The first round of Egypt's presidential poll has been set for 26-27 May, the electoral authorities say, days after army chief Gen Sisi resigned and announced his candidacy, Reuters reports.
Egyptians will vote on May 26 and 27 in the first round of a presidential election, the organising body said on Sunday, a contest former army chief Abdel Fattah al Sisi is expected to win easily.
Sisi, who deposed President Mohamed Morsi last July, has been riding on a wave of popular backing from supporters who see him as the man who can save Egypt from crisis. But the Islamist opposition views him as the mastermind of a coup.
Sisi was seen as the most influential figure in an interim administration that has been cracking down hard on Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood and other opponents in the last nine months. The Brotherhood, Egypt's best organised political party until last year, has been banned and driven underground.
The vote will go to a second round in June if the first-placed candidate does not by a wide enough margin. The organising committee did not say what this margin was during a televised news conference.
Sisi is widely expected to win comfortably. He enjoys solid support from privately- and state-run media.
Candidates may conduct their election campaigns between May 3 and May 23, the spokesman for the committee in charge of organising the elections said in a televised news conference.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
