Al-Wafd party is to host a meeting on Wednesday for its higher committee to reconsider the party's stance towards participation in the upcoming parliamentary elections. Party spokesman Bahgat Al-Hossamy said that a number of higher committee members demanded discussions on what they described as the "state's intervention in the parliamentary elections process". The committee will convene on Wednesday to review the party's election participation decision. He also revealed that the same issue had previously been raised in the committee's meetings in the last couple of weeks. The situation was "contained" then, however, but members now demanded an emergency meeting for the committee to discuss the issue. Hossamy did not reveal specific interventions the members are concerned about, adding that the Wednesday meeting will ensure all concerns are discussed. Al-Wafd leads one of the most prominent coalitions that will participate in the 21 March parliamentary elections. A number of leftist, Islamist and liberal parties announced they will boycott the upcoming vote, citing reasons related to oppressive actions of authorities. A leader of Al-Wafd, Essam Sheha, said that reconsidering the stance on elections is a move he expected from several parties and coalitions.
