CAIRO: Parliamentary hopefuls began submitting their applications on Wednesday at appeals courts throughout Egypt, for both the People's Assembly and Shoura Council elections. The first parliamentary elections since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak come at a critical time for Egypt on the security, economic and political fronts. Deputy Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi submitted his resignation Tuesday in protest of a violent crackdown on demonstrators marching for Coptic rights on Sunday, which left 25 dead. It was, however, rejected by the ruling military council. The week's events have raised concerns over whether elections can be held in a safe and secure environment. But the process has officially begun as political powers and parties around the country began presenting candidates' nominations or finalizing their party lists to submit during the weeklong window for applications. Egypt's two main political parties, Al-Wafd and the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), have not yet finalized their lists. The two recently made a final decision to break their electoral alliance ahead of the upcoming elections. “We are still finalizing the lists and will be announcing them within the coming couple of days,” said Hussein Mansour, member of Al-Wafd's higher committee, who denied reports that their lists include members of the former ruling and now dissolved National Democratic Party. Mansour said their program is based on a new Egypt built on the concepts of citizenship, justice, democracy and modernity. Mohamed El-Beltagy, member of FJP's executive office, said they are in full coordination with member parties of the Democratic Alliance, a coalition of more than 30 parties from the left and far right initially spearheaded by Al-Wafd and the FJP. Al-Wafd, however, withdrew from the alliance and will contest the coming legislative elections on a separate list. The alliance includes Al -Ghad, Al-Karama, the Arab Democratic Nasserist Party and Al-Assala. "The committee contacted 20 highly-regarded public figures, not affiliated to any political parties, to run as lead candidates on the coalition's lists. These include Judge Mahmoud Al-Khodeiri, former chairman of the Alexandria Judges Club; Diaa Rashwan, head of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies; and George Ishaq, former general coordinator of the Kefaya Movement For Change," said El-Beltagy. The People's Assembly elections are set to begin on Nov. 28 while voting for the Shoura Council is scheduled for Jan. 29 next year. The People's Assembly is scheduled to hold its first session on March 17 and the Shoura Council on March 24. A committee will then set out to draft a new constitution within six months, after which presidential elections are to take place. As candidates submitted applications, many noted that former members of the dissolved NDP are running in the upcoming elections in large numbers, which political powers and activists consider “catastrophic.” Many have demanded the implementation of an exclusion law that would ban members of the former regime from political participation. “It is a disaster. It is sad to see that the political exclusion law hasn't been enacted. This is the least that could have been done after the revolution,” said Tarek Al-Malt, official spokesperson of Al-Wasat Party and a candidate in Beni Suef. “This will be a major reason for the spread of bribery and thuggery during the elections,” he added, noting that in context of the current dire economic conditions, candidates could sway voters with their money. Al-Wasat Party will have candidates in all 46 governorates but still has not completed their independent party list and are ready to coordinate or join forces with other political powers, parties or figures, according to Al-Malt. Their program calls for a civil democratic state based on the concepts of human rights, social justice and citizenship. “We want to raise the living standard of Egyptians and give citizens a dignified life with job opportunities, [reliable] transportation, an apartment to get married in, a bed in a hospital and a police to protect, not humiliate them,” he said. After the youth-led January 25 Revolution, and with the minimum age for candidates lowered to 25 years, the presence of the youth is anticipated. “The presence of youth in the parliament is mandatory because if they are not there, then it would not be expressive or representative of the revolution and the beliefs it advocated,” said Yasser Al-Hawary, spokesperson of Youth for Justice and Freedom movement, which has seven members running on the Revolution Youth Coalition list. Several Salafi (ultra conservative Islam) parties have also emerged in recent months. Al-Nour, the most prominent, will field candidates in the upcoming elections, as well as various alliances with other parties which are yet to be announced, said spokesperson Youssry Hamad. “In our program, we are focusing on the main issues Egyptians are concerned about including unemployment, salaries, housing and investments,” said Hamad. Hamad said that a number of NDP members have approached them wanting to join their list, but were rejected. “Those who are responsible for ruining the political life in Egypt should not be allowed to join,” he said.
