The leftist Tagammu Party has announced its intention to participate in the second round of Egypt's parliamentary elections. The decision comes amidst mounting pressure from some of the party's committees to follow the Wafd Party and Muslim Brotherhood in boycotting the second round. However, in a press conference held this afternoon, Tagammu Secretary General Rifaat El-Said stated, "We will wage a strong electoral battle and will not give the NDP the chance to take up all the seats." Only three Tagammu candidates will have a chance to participate in Sunday's second round runoff, with the party securing one seat by Abdel Rasheed Helal in the first round. The decision is likely to be seen as another example of the party's weak response to an election marred by violations, with dozens of its members resigning in protest over the past two days. Most notable among them is Port Said's El-Badry Farghaly, who criticized El-Said as bending to the NDP's will for personal gain.
