CAIRO: Egypt's Higher Presidential Elections Commission (HPEC) announced on Saturday, regulations of the presidential campaigning that will start as of April 30, and run until midnight Monday, May 21. If there is a run-off, the campaigning will kick off again on the day following the announcement of the results of the first round until Friday, June 15. Otherwise, further campaigning will be banned. Among the rules of the campaigning, are that the presidential candidate has the right to hold meetings, rallies and symposiums to explain his or her electoral platform, a source at the commission told Bikyamasr.com. The candidates are not allowed to expose other candidates' private lives, or their families in any form, the source said. They are banned from disseminating remarks against national unity, and too, the norms of society – nor are they able to use religious slogans, the source asserted. Violence, threats and gifts in donations, cash or in kind or promises to offer them, whether in a direct or indirect way are not allowed. The use of public buildings and facilities, state transportation, places of worship, schools and universities is also not permitted. Civil servants are not allowed to make use of their positions in campaigning for presidential candidates. Three daily periods are allocated in Egyptian television and radio to present the electoral platforms of the candidates, the source said, adding that the pre-paid advertisements in state media are not allowed. Egypt's first democratic presidential elections, and in its extensive recorded history, are about to commence.
