Arrangements for 2018 presidential elections kick off

CAIRO – 6 August 2017: Egyptian government and the National Elections Committee (NCE) began on Saturday setting arrangements to hold presidential elections in May 2018, which will be run in accordance with articles 208, 209, and 210 of the constitution.

Those articles designate the structure of the committee composed of judges, and entitled to organize the elections’ procedures.

On July 28, Egypt's Prime Minister Sherif Ismail held a meeting with the ministers of justice and parliamentary affairs as well as a representative of the finance ministry to review the measures to be implemented for the NEC to supervise the elections, according to Ahram Online.

Rami Mohsen, head of the independent National Centre for Parliamentary Consultancies, told Ahram Online that "the NEC law, passed on June 21 (by Parliament), is yet to be ratified by President Abdel-Fatah el-Sisi."

The NEC's board will be headed by the Chairman of the Court of Cassation and include senior judges affiliated with the Court of Cassation, the Court of Appeals, the State Council, the State Cases Authority and the Administrative Prosecution Authority.

"Board members will be selected by the Higher Council for Judges and endorsed by the president," Mohsen said.

Informed sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that Chancellor Omar Marwan, minister of legal and parliamentary affairs, is entitled to select the headquarters of NEC, and setting its budget which would be secured through the state budget reserves.

When asked during the Fourth National Youth Conference in July whether he would run for office for a second term, Sisi did not give a clear answer.

“Never underestimate the value of your vote for your country. Show the world your choice," Sisi said addressing the Egyptian people in the conference.

However, four parties announced last week their support for Sisi in elections, should he run for elections, as Ahram Online reported.

These parties include the Free Egyptians Party having the largest representation in the parliament with 65 members, issued a statement backing Sisi on July 27.

A similar statement was made by El Sayed el-Badawi, the head of the oldest party in Egypt El-Wafd, to the press on July 29.

“Several minor political parties – the Conference Party, the Free Constitutional Party, the Conservatives Party, Guardians of the Future, the Freedom Party and the Future of a Nation – have also announced their support for Sisi,” according to Ahram Online.

Leftist parties did not clarify yet whether they are fielding candidates in the upcoming presidential elections or not.

“Karama Party secretary-general Mohamed Bassiouny said in a press interview last week that the Democratic Current Alliance, which includes the Dostour, the Popular Socialist, Justice and the Egyptian Social Democratic parties, are coordinating to select an opposition candidate,” according to Ahram Online.

Furthermore, former presidential candidate Hamdeen Sabahi told journalists last May that "there should be one opposition candidate against Sisi next year…more than one will split the vote and guarantee that El-Sisi is re-elected."