CAIRO: Prime Minister Essam Sharaf held a general meeting Thursday to discuss preparations for the first round of parliamentary elections slated for Nov. 28. “These elections are Egypt's entrance to democracy,” said Sharaf in the meeting, according to a Cabinet statement. “[Free and fair] elections are the most important goal of the revolution which will subsequently lead to the accomplishments of the economic and social goals,” he added. Sharaf also noted that the success of the first round is crucial, especially for the success of the remaining two rounds. Present in the meeting were the governors of the nine provinces in which the elections will take place: Cairo, Alexandria, Fayoum, Kafr El-Sheikh, Damietta, Port Said, Red Sea, Assiut and Luxor, as well as the heads of security in these governorates. The meeting also included the ministers of Electricity, Solidarity and Social Justice, Interior, Information and Local Development, as well as head of the Supreme Electoral Committee, Abdel Moez Ibrahim. The officials discussed the preparations of the administration, the procedures and the security of the electoral process. Minister of Interior Mansour El-Essawi, along with the nine deputies, presented their plan to secure the polling stations to the judges and employees working in them as well as the voters. They warned against serious penalties to anyone who poses any threat to or impedes the voting process. Sharaf also stressed the role of the media during the upcoming period leading to the elections and during the elections. “They have to thoroughly explain the electoral process and make the voters aware of the different political parties' programs and other necessary information, such as the location of voting stations,” he explained. Egypt is gearing up for its first parliamentary elections following the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak, which is expected to attract masses as indicated by over 18 million Egyptians who turned up to vote in a referendum in March.
