The Shura Council elections on Tuesday witnessed acts of violence in Beheira and Gharbiya, despite an overall low turnout in all governorates. There are 446 candidates from various political parties, the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and independents competing in the elections over 74 council seats, of which the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) has already ensured 14 uncontested ones. Human rights organizations have noted many violations, including banning reporters from entering the supervising committee centers, while opposition, independent and MB candidates have accused the government of rigging the elections in favor of the NDP. The MB said in a statement that the ruling party is deliberately jeopardizing political life with its disruptive practices, including physically assaulting its candidates and confiscating ballot boxes. However, Entissar Nessim, head of the Supreme Elections Committee, said the voting process was normal, with the exception of a few "trivial incidents". NDP Secretary-General Safwat el-Sherif also said the elections proceeded normally, with the exception of minor altercations with the security services in a limited number of constituencies. In a related development, a delegation from American Embassy, the European Commission and UNDP has visited to the National Council for Human Rights, inquiring about any election complaints and about the extent to which the council has granted civil society organizations supervisory powers the elections. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
