Republican decree on coming elections
Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak Sunday urged, in a republican decree, eligible voters to cast their votes in the country's legislative elections, starting in October.
The polls will be held for the first time at three stages. The first stage will be conducted on October 18; the second on October 29; and the last on November 8.
The republican decree said that the new People's Assembly (the lower house of Egyptian parliament) would hold its first session on December 13, 2000.
The National Democratic Party (NDP) candidates will contest the coming elections of the People's Assembly in all 222 constituencies. The election will be held in three stages over one month as of October 15.
Kamal Al Shazly, Minister of People's Assembly and Shura Council Affairs, denied claims that the party will give up some constituencies in favour of some other parties.
Shazly told a press conference Sunday that NDP candidates have been chosen according to certain criteria, namely good reputation, popularity, ability to solve the problems of the masses and live among them in their constituencies where they live.
The names of the candidates were presented to President Hosni Mubarak, chairman of the National Democratic Party.
Shazly said that the percentage of representation of workers and farmers was observed. In fact their number was more than the prescribed 50 percent. The list of NDP candidates include 224 workers and farmers against 220 for categories.
Seventeen women have been chosen, including 7 who will contest the elections for the first time. The percentage of change has risen to 42 percent (about 186 candidates). It is the largest percentage during the past period.
NDP candidates in the coming elections include 35 university professors, of whom 10 are doctors, 45 lawyers 330 engineers, 35 holders of business degrees, 3 businessmen, 5 media men, 35 syndicate leaders, 90 cooperative system leaders, 35 labour leaders in the government or the Public Business Sector and 3 Copts.
Shazly said the largest change was in Alexandria followed by Port Said and Qaliubia (Nile Delta). The least change was in south Sinai. There was no change and the present deputies were renominated.
In the name of the National Democratic Party, Shazly welcomed the participation of other political parties, opposition and independent, in the elections.
Their participation enriches democratic life in Egypt. Competition will be free and honest and the elections will be held, for the first time, under full judicial supervision, he said.
The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) nominated six incumbent and four former ministers for the upcoming parliamentary elections, to run as of mid-October.
The party re-nominated the current People's Assembly office members, including People's Assembly (PA) Speaker Fathi Srour of Saida Zeinab, PA deputy Amal Othman o Dokki, PA deputy E1 Sayyed Rashid of Sidi Gaber in Alexandria.
The incumbent ministers, who were nominated, are Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Youssef Wali of Ibshawa in Fayoum, PA and Shura Council Affairs Minister Kamal A1 -Shazli of Bagour in Menoufia, Economy and Foreign Trade Minister Youssef Boutros Ghali of the Technical Institute area in Cairo, Housing Minister Ibrahim Suleyman of Gamalia in Cairo, and water resources Minister Mahmoud Abu Zeid of Nahtay in Gharbia Governorate.
Presidential Cabinet chief Zakarya Azmi will run in Zaitoun, Cairo. The list of NDP nominees also included former Economy Minister Mustafa Al-Sa wed, former Waqfa Minister Mohamed Ali Mahgoub, former Electricity and Energy Minister Maher Abaza, and former Local Administration Minister Mahmoud Sherif.