Kamal Amer, head of parliament's defence and national security committee, revealed Monday that members of the committee have prepared a message of "appreciation, confidence and support" to send to Egypt's president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. Amer told reporters that the message calls upon President El-Sisi to contest Egypt's 2018 presidential election. "Members of the committee want to see President El-Sisi running in this election because this is very important to the country's security and stability," said Amer. Amer, a former chief of military intelligence, said "the committee will lead a campaign aimed at mobilizing support for President El-Sisi in next year's election." The committee's message said "as President El-Sisi has shown a good example of loyalty to national interests, firm resolve, and high creativity in leading Egypt, not to mention his prominent role in restoring Egypt's role in international circles, members recommend that he runs for a second four-year in office." Amer said President El-Sisi fought a ferocious battle against terrorism and extremist organizations and led a campaign in favor of reforming religious discourse. "After four years in office, President El-Sisi was able to restore stability at home as well as Egypt's relations with most world countries in way that serves its national and economic interests," said Amer, adding that "members of the committee want El-Sisi to complete his programme that is focussed on keeping Egypt a civilian state based on democratic values, social justice and religious tolerance." President El-Sisi has so far refrained from officially announcing that he will run in next year's election. El-Sisi, however, said many times that "he is ready to run again for president only upon the wish of Egyptians." Egypt's next presidential election is expected to be held in May or June 2018. Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Omar Marawan said in an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram last week that members of the National Electoral Commission (NEC), which will be in charge of supervising 2018's president election, have been named. "The names of the ten members of this commission were approved by minister of justice Hossam Abdel-Rehim and they have yet to be ratified by a presidential decree very soon." Marawan said NEC will soon get down to business as it will meet to supervise a parliamentary by-election in the upper Egypt of Sohag, moving next to prepare for 2018's presidential election. Article 142 of Egypt's 2014 constitution stipulates presidential candidates must first secure the endorsement of a minimum of 20 MPs or 25,000 citizens from across at least 15 governorates in order to stand in presidential elections.
