Sisi files candidacy papers with National Election Authority

CAIRO - 24 January 2018: President Abel Fatah al-Sisi has submitted his candidacy file to the National Election Authority (NEA), including his medical checkup documents, tens of thousands of endorsement forms and over 500 recommendations from the 596-member House of Representatives, NEA said.

Sisi's attorney Mohamed Abu Sha'a officially handed the file over to the NEA, one day after Sisi was reported to have conducted the prerequisite medical checkup.

A total of 850,000 endorsement forms have been signed by citizens for potential candidates, NEA announced in a Monday press release without giving a breakdown of the signatures.



Sixty-eight NGOs have applied to observe the 2018 presidential election, of which eight are foreign organizations.

Five persons have announced their intention to run for the 2018 Presidential Elections; Sisi, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, former Chief of Staff Samy Anan, human rights lawyer Khaled Ali, and lawyer and President of Zamalek Sports Club Mortada Mansour.

Shafiq has withdrawn, Anan has been summoned for a forgery probe, and Mansour said in the 2012 and 2014 he would run, but never did. Meanwhile, Ali is due Wednesday to declare the outcome of his meetings on whether or not to withdraw.

The final list of the candidates will be announced on February 24.



Voting will take place over three days, starting March 16 abroad from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in each country’s local time, and March 26 domestically.The winning candidate will be announced on April 2.