CAIRO: The Secretary-General of Egypt's Supreme Presidential Elections Committee Hatem Begato, confirmed on Saturday, that on Friday, 12 people requested the documents needed for their candidacy for the president, which raises the total number of those who have declared their willingness to run for the country's top job since doors were opened on March 10 to 672 persons within just one week. He said in a press statement that the three who have officially nominated themselves for the presidency are candidates coming from political parties, in which these parties are represented in the parliament. The Committee urged the media and the press to not be hasty in giving anyone submitting documents for candidacy the adjective “Presidential Hopeful,” on both those who apply or inquire about the requirements of the nomination. The statement stressed that it “does not consider a candidate in an official capacity unless the candidate fulfills the requirements stipulated in the elections law, including either the support of 30,000 voters in the form of signed recommendations for the Supreme Committee, or the support of 30 members of the elected People's Assembly and Shura Council, or the nomination of a political party that is represented in parliament with at least one seat.” The committee added that it does not control the regulations of the nomination, as this is stipulated only by law, noting that the committee had “nothing to do with setting rules and regulations over candidacy.” Egyptians are expected to head to the polls in mid-May to cast their ballot in the first ever truly free and open election with multiple candidates. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/uV80m Tags: Egypt, Elections, featured, President, Vote Section: Egypt, Latest News
