Egypt’s election authority: None of presidential hopefuls submitted candidacy papers on 1st day

CAIRO – 5 October 2023: Executive Director of the National Election Authority (NEA) Ahmed Bendari said the authority has not yet received candidacy papers from any of the presidential hopefuls.

The NEA opened the door today for candidates who fulfill the candidacy requirements for the first day but none of the presidential hopefuls submitted their papers.

The NEA continues to receive candidacy papers everyday from 9 AM to 5 PM until Saturday 14 October, including through holidays.

At least seven candidates plan to run for president during the upcoming elections scheduled for December, including incumbent President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Presidential hopefuls also include Head of Egypt’s liberal Constitution Party (Al-Dostour) Gameela Ismail, Chairman of the Democratic Peace Party Ahmed El-Fadaly, and former MP Ahmed Tantawi, the former head of Al-Karama (Dignity) Party.

None of those candidates have yet announced securing the required endorsements in order to be able to run for president.

According to the law, any citizen willing to run for president must first obtain endorsement from at least 25,000 citizens in 15 or more governorates.

Instead, a citizen can run for elections in case he managed to secure endorsement from 20 or more members of the House of Representatives.

Meanwhile, Head of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party Farid Zahran, Head of Al-Wafd Party Abdel Sanad Yamama and Head of the People’s Republican Party Hazem Omar have secured the required endorsements from the parliament.

Egyptians will cast their votes in the 2024 Presidential Elections on 10-12 December 2023 locally, while eligible voters living abroad will vote on 1-3 December.

Check the full timetable of the 2024 Presidential Elections from here.