CAIRO - The first presidential elections, since the January 25 revolution and the ousting of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011, will surely be unforgettable. The registration process started on March 10. Hundreds of Egyptians have already received application forms to run as candidates. There are candidates from across the spectrum – with different ideas, social levels, educational backgrounds and of course platforms. According to experts, after 30 years of an undemocratic regime, many Egyptians, especially the poor, need to feel that they are in a democratic country and that nothing is impossible. "There is no limit to my dreams and ambitions, as we are now in a democratic country," says Mohamed Rashed, a reformed criminal who has registered as a presidential hopeful. "Who could have imagined that an ordinary Egyptian like me would one day be a presidential candidate?" He also advises Egyptians, if they go out, to leave a light on in their homes and the radio too, to reduce the chances of being burgled. The forthcoming elections will be the second presidential elections in Egypt's history with more than one candidate; the previous elections were in 2005, when Mubarak won with 88.6 per cent of the vote! "It costs the State LE60 to register each candidate; 625 candidates registered in the first six days, costing the State LE37,500," said Chancellor Hatem Begato, the head of the registration committee. Meanwhile, MP Abul Ezz el-Hariri, the head of 'The Revolution will Continue', a parliamentary association, says that what has pushed him to enter the election race is his feeling that the remnants of the old regime are conspiring against the revolution. "We have little time to present our platform," he says. "Every candidate needs time to persuade the Egyptians that he is the best.” According to the Higher Presidential Election Commission (HPEC), the campaign for the presidential elections will officially begin on April 30 and run until two days before the elections start on May 23; any candidate campaigning beyond the deadline will be prosecuted. According to the HPEC, the registration process for presidential candidates started on March 10 and will end on April 8, giving the candidates time to collect 30,000 signatures from people in 15 governorates or the support of 30 MPs. The election rules were announced on January 30. Candidates have to have been born in Egypt of Egyptian parents; they must hold only Egyptian nationality and must not be married to a foreigner. Selima Mohamed, who works as a humble cleaning lady in a governmental building, has also decided to run in the presidential elections. "I will support the role of women in society and create new jobs for young people," Selima said. "If I win the elections, I will dismantle Parliament, because it's useless.” Meanwhile, Sami Ibrahim, an undertaker, said that he would support Egypt's foreign relations and national unity. The presidential elections will be held on May 23 and 24. If no candidate wins more than half of the votes in the first round, the top two candidates will face another round on June 16 and 17. The new president, who will be only the fifth president in nearly 60 years, will then be named on June 21, after a swift transferring of power from military rulers to the civilian government. "We will have four years to learn from our faults in the next elections; we can consider this as a chance to learn the real meaning of democracy," says Shaimaa Saad, a housewife. "There should be specific rules, qualifications and standards for the elections. It's not an easy thing to be president and not just anyone can do it. “Maybe many unsuitable people are planning to run, because they are ambitious or feel repressed," she adds, critical of the level of most of the candidates.
