Presidential hopeful Hisham El-Bastawisy expressed on Friday his belief that the biggest threat to the revolution is the former regime's insistence on sticking to its oppressive tools and corrupt figures. The judge added that elections are the only way to take the revolution forward in a peaceful manner. Batsawisy called for quick elections that would see installed a parliament and a president working together towards a new system based on respect for human rights and social justice. He warned that the alternative to elections would be a return to the streets, adding that if this happens people might choose a different path; one not based on the rule of law. However, Bastawisy went on to say that for elections to take place, freedoms must be guaranteed as well as transparency. This, he said, requires that the current constitutional declaration is adhered to, and hence the Emergency Law should be abolished and all prisoners arrested under it released. Furthermore, all those sentenced in military courts should receive retrials. As for the elections themselves, Bastawisy called for cancelling the individual candidacy system as it allows corruption to flourish. Civil society and international monitoring of the polls should be allowed and Egyptians living abroad given the right to vote.
