Division within Wafd party over Badawi's presumptive nomination for Egypt's presidency

CAIRO – 27 January 2018: El-Wafd party will officially announce in few hours their situation concerning the 2018 presidential election which is due in March. The party already named the party’s chairperson El-Sayyid el-Badawi to be its presumptive nominee for presidency two days ago.

The Supreme Committee of the party is currently convening a meeting at the headquarters in Dokki district to finally settle on their decision whether to nominate Badawi as a potential presidential candidate, amid a state of division within the party.

“There is a state of division between supporters and opponents to nominating Badawi for the presidential election,” an official source of the party told Egypt Today on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to brief the media.


Members of Wafd party chants amid a state of division within it over Badawi's nomination for 2018 presidential election- Egypt Today/ Amr Moustafa

Badawi officially declared his willingness to run for president in 2018 on Friday; however the final decision will be contingent of the party's higher board's decision. Badawi has conducted a medical checkup which is required for presidential candidacy on Friday.



Members of Wafd party chants amid a state of division within it over Badawi's nomination for 2018 presidential election- Egypt Today/ Amr Moustafa


The 68-year-old candidate’s nomination came after three other potential candidates (lawyer Khaled Ali and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq and Parliamentarian Mortada Mansour) withdrew from the election, and after former military chief of staff Sami Anan was disqualified over charges of “forgery”. On January 12, Badawi announced his party’s support for President ِAbdel Fatah al-Sisi for a second term.


Wafd Party Chairperson Sayyid El-Badawi with the party members in a meeting held over his nomination for presidency on Saturday, 27 January 2018- Egypt Today/Amr Moustafa


President Sisi has already submitted his nomination on January 24, while the other hopeful candidate Khaled Ali pulled out from the presidential race.


Members of Wafd party raising signs support Sisi for a second term amid a state of division within it over Badawi's nomination for 2018 presidential election- Egypt Today/ Amr Moustafa


The presidential election is set to take place between March 26 and 28, with a possible run-off scheduled between April 24 and 26. If no run-offs are necessary, the winner will be announced on April 2.