The results of Egypt's recently concluded parliamentary elections will largely determine what political parties will have the right to field candidates in upcoming presidential elections slated for late next year. According to Article 76 of Egypt's constitution, only parties that have representatives in parliament or the Shura Council are permitted to field candidates for the country's top post. Based on the composition of the incoming parliament, eight parties will have the right to nominate presidential candidates. These parties include the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), the liberal Wafd Party and the leftist Tagammu Party, along with the Ghad, Geel, Nasserist, Al-Salam and Social Justice parties. Parties that boast members in the incoming parliament include the NDP, Wafd, Tagammu, Ghad, Geel, Al-Salam and Social Justice. Although it will not be represented in Egypt's next parliament, the Nasserist Party does have one member in the Shura Council. The NDP won 419 out of 518 seats in recently concluded parliamentary polls. Independent candidates won 69 seats, meanwhile, 53 of whom are affiliated with the ruling party. Whether or not the latter will formally join the NDP following the elections, however, remains open to question. Two women won seats outside of the seat-quota reserved for female candidates, while only two Copts--Finance Minister Youssef Boutros-Ghali and Khaled al-Asyouti--won seats. The Wafd Party, meanwhile, is expected on Wednesday to decide the fate of those of its members who competed in Sunday's run-offs despite the party's official decision to boycott the contest due to widespread reports of electoral fraud. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
