The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) has delayed nomination of its parliamentary candidates to 29 September, NDP Secretary-General Safwat al-Sherif said on Sunday. According to al-Sherif, the decision was taken to give party branches throughout the country more time to scrutinize candidacy applications. Elections for seats in Egypt's People's Assembly are slated for November. “The NDP vies with other parties for the confidence of the public,” al-Sherif said, stressing that competition represented the "essence of democracy." The ruling party veteran also said that the NDP's executive board had decided to exclude from candidacy all party members accused or convicted of state-funded medical treatment violations. Al-Sherif went on to say that the board had also discussed suggestions submitted by Refaat al-Saeed, head of the leftist Tagammu Party and representative of a four-party opposition bloc, on means of ensuring fair parliamentary races. “We are keen on holding free and fair elections within the framework of the constitution and laws governing political rights,” al-Sherif said, asserting that the final word rested with the Egyptian voting public. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
