The door for the registration of presidential candidates opened on Monday. Candidates headed to the Nasr City headquarters of the Presidential Elections Commission (PEC) to receive nomination papers. The streets leading to PEC were cordoned off and security measures tight. A few hours later, notary offices across the country started receiving citizens who wanted to register endorsements for their favourite candidates. The competition so far appears to be between former defence minister Field Marshal Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi and leading Nasserist figure Hamdeen Sabahi. A preliminary list of candidates will be announced on 21 April together with the number of endorsements each candidate has collected. Under the constitution candidates must secure 25,000 endorsements, with at least 1,000 coming from 15 different governorates. After the final list of candidates is announced on 2 May, candidates will select their campaign symbols so that they can print election posters and other materials. Election campaigns will open on 3 May and close three days before the vote. Polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm on 26 and 27 May. The new constitution stipulates that the election be placed under full judicial supervision. Main and auxiliary polling stations will be under full judicial oversight and representatives of candidates, civil society organisations and the media will be allowed to observe the polling and vote-counting processes. PEC Secretary-General Hamdan Fahmi said he was fully confident security forces will be able to secure the poll. Informed sources say the army's newly-formed rapid intervention force is expected to be deployed. The formation of the force was announced on 25 March, a day before Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi stepped down as minister of defence to contest the election. Fahmi urged all Egyptians to exercise their constitutional rights and take part in electing a new president. Local and foreign civil society organisations seeking to monitor the poll must apply by 5 April at the latest though “these organisations will be banned from announcing any poll results before they are officially made public by the PEC,” said Fahmi. Applicants for monitoring “must have a proven record of impartiality”. The state-owned Television and Radio Union will be required to give equal time to all candidates to explain their platforms and campaigns and campaign donations will have to be deposited in accounts at either the National Bank of Egypt or Bank Misr. “Candidates are expected to inform the PEC of donations deposited in these accounts on a daily basis and will be banned from using monies outside these accounts to spend on their campaigns,” said Fahmi. The ceiling for campaign spending has been set at LE20 million in the first round and LE5 for any run-off. For the first time candidates will be compelled to undergo comprehensive medical check-ups which will be conducted by the Ministry of Health's Specialised Medical Council (SMC). SMC Chairman Osama Al-Hadi told journalists this week that 40 doctors “will examine candidates for any chronic diseases, mental disorders or even psychological troubles”. The PEC's announcement of the presidential poll timeline and guidelines triggered mixed reactions. Lawyer and human rights activist Essam Al-Islambouli complained that the eight days between the poll — on 26-27 May — and announcement of the result — on 5 June — was too short. He urged that a minimum of 15 days be allowed between the closing of the polls and the announcement of the winner. “Interim President Adli Mansour amended the law regulating the workings of the Supreme Constitutional Court (SCC) to reduce the time before a verdict is given on the constitutionality of new laws from 45 to 15 days,” points out Al-Islambouli. Observers predict dozens of lawsuits being filed with the SCC contesting the constitutionality of article 7 of the presidential election law which makes PEC decisions immune to appeals. Otherwise, says Al-Islambouli, the PEC's timeline and measures regulating the presidential polls are “credible” and “reasonable”. Human rights activists complain the 15 days allotted for civil society organisations to register poll monitors with the PEC are inadequate. Hafez Abu Seada, chairman of the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), told Al-Ahram Weekly that it has 15,000 affiliated monitors, far too many to register in such a short time. He recommended “foreign monitors should belong to NGOs with an international reputation for impartiality”. Members of the semi-governmental National Council for Human Rights urged the PEC to ensure no Muslim Brotherhood-affiliated NGOs are allowed to monitor the poll. First round 31 March – 20 April Registration 21 April PEC announces preliminary list of candidates 22 – 23 April Petitions against candidates 24 – 26 April PEC reviews petitions 30 April Final ruling on petitions 2 May Final list of candidates 9 May Final chance for withdrawal 3 – 23 May Beginning of campaigns 15 – 18 May Expats vote 26 – 27 May First round of elections 29 May Complaints 31 May Final ruling on complaints 5 June Official results of the first round Second round 6 – 9 June Run-off for expats 16 – 17 June Run-off 26 June Official results of run-off
