CAIRO, 10 May 2005 — The leader of Egypt’s new political party said he would run for president in the September elections.
Mamdouh Qinawi, leader of the Free Social Constitutional Party, said in a press conference he would launch his election campaign soon and promised to guarantee Egyptians their political rights and a better social and economic environment.
He said he hoped all the candidates would be given equal opportunities by the media to highlight their manifestoes.
The Social Constitutional Party became Egypt’s 19th recognized party after it was approved by the Political Parties Committee (PPC), an affiliate of the Shoura Council, last year.
Only 11 of the 19 recognized political parties obtained their licenses after challenging an initial refusal from the PPC through Egypt’s judicial system. Three parties were formed in 1977 and four were authorized by the committee. The PPC has refused to extend official recognition to 63 parties.
Meanwhile, the Shoura Council, Egypt’s upper house of Parliament, approved an amendment to the constitution to allow multi-candidate presidential elections.
The amendment drew flak from opposition leaders who said the move was aimed at excluding real competitors from the presidential race.
The constitutional amendment was approved by 241 of the 264-member council in a vote called “historic” by Speaker Safwat El-Sherif.
Only 8 members refused to vote including representatives from Al Wafd and Tagmmua opposition parties.
“Requiring the potential candidate to get the backing of 300 members of the two houses of Parliament and municipal council is a way to block them from the contest,” said a statement released by Al Wafd party.
The amendment stipulates that a presidential candidate must either be a member of an official political party or, if running as an independent, get a minimum of 65 recommendations from elected members of the lower house, 25 from the Shoura Council and 10 from local councils from at least 14 governorates.
Khalil Kama, member of Kifya (Enough) movement and director of Socialist Studies Center told Arab News the amendments violate the Egyptian constitution that states everyone should be treated equally. “They give preference to those who are members of legal parties over those who are not,” he added.
The amendments will be approved today by the People’s Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament, and will later be put to a public referendum for final approval before September.
