The Muslim Brotherhood's recently announced presidential nominee Khairat al-Shater will submit his candidacy application to the Presidential Elections Commission on Thursday, Mohamed Morsy, chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party, said on Wednesday. Morsy, who supervises Shater's electoral campaign, said in a statement that legal advisers have completed all the documents required for his candidacy, which include the FJP's official nomination letter, as well as endorsement signatures by more than 279 MPs. The Brotherhood's lawyer, Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud, told reporters outside the Presidential Elections Commission building on Wednesday that Shater will hold a press conference outside the commission's headquarters after submitting his documents. He stressed that Shater's candidacy is not facing any legal hurdles, and added that negotiations are underway with other political forces to convince them to back the Brotherhood's nominee during the elections. Earlier press reports hinted that Shater's presidential bid might be at stake due to his imprisonment under ousted President Hosni Mubarak. Shater was released for health considerations after Mubarak was toppled, but there has still been a legal debate over his eligibility. Presidential candidates are required to have a clean criminal record.
