EGYPT-ELECTION/CANDIDATE REGISTRATION Registration opens for Egypt's parliamentary elections

Record ID: 140539

  • Title: EGYPT-ELECTION/CANDIDATE REGISTRATION Registration opens for Egypt's parliamentary elections
  • Date: 1st September 2015
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (SEPTEMBER 1, 2015) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF CAIRO COURT CANDIDATES AND SECURITY OUTSIDE COURT VARIOUS OF CANDIDATES AND SECURITY INSIDE COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR OLD EGYPT AND MANIAL DISTRICT IN CAIRO, SAMEH ALI LOTFY, SAYING: "We are all very optimistic. I see that there's a lot of positive energy among the people who just had two revolutions - there's a lot of voting and political awareness. God willing, I anticipate that the coming phase will witness a very high turnout. After the first and second successes that people participated in because they care about our country. We want everybody to participate so we can abolish this bribery approach that was followed by the large political parties previously in Egypt. At the time, independents have a good chance and God willing, this upcoming parliament will be the most serious in Egypt's history because it will turn the constitution into a legislative foundation and it will discuss more than 300 draft laws." VARIOUS OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES CHOOSING SYMBOLS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR AL-SALAM DISTRICT IN CAIRO, ALI AL-SAWAH, SAYING: "I applied today and I had applied the last time when the elections were cancelled. Today, everything is in order and going well and smoothly. God willing, I hope that I will succeed, so I can serve the residents of my district and the country as a whole - because a member of parliament isn't just part of the district, but also a member of the nation. God willing, as per my occupation as a lawyer, my first ambition is to discuss the draft laws and amend them." VARIOUS OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES AND CROWD INSIDE COURT (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR MANSHYET NASSER AND GAMALYA DISTRICT, NAME UNKNOWN, SAYING: "The next parliament will not be like any other previous one - the upcoming parliament will be the most serious parliament. God willing, I hope we're up to the challenge and for the country to move forward." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GOING IN AND OUT OF COURT EXTERIOR OF COURT
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2015 13:00
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  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EZ1OV7477L8M59FFWZ23ELH8
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Egypt kicked off the registration for its long-awaited parliamentary election on Tuesday (September 1) after being without a parliament for three years.
    Candidates wishing to put their names forward headed to courts across the country to register themselves for the election which, according to the government, is proof of Egypt's commitment to democracy.
    Egypt's elections committee announced on Sunday (August 30) that the country will hold a parliamentary election, starting on Oct. 18-19, the final step in a process to bring back democracy that critics say has been tainted by widespread repression.
    Egypt has been without a parliament since June 2012 when a court dissolved the democratically elected main chamber, dominated by the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood, reversing a major accomplishment of the 2011 uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak.
    The election had been due to begin in March but was delayed after a court ruled part of the election law unconstitutional.
    A second round of voting in the two-phase election will take place on Nov. 22-23, the election commission told a news conference. Voting for Egyptians abroad will take place on Oct. 17-18.
    Those putting their names forward for the upcoming polls on Tuesday expressed hopes about the new parliament.
    Potential candidate for the Old Egypt and Manial District, Sameh Ali Lofty, was among them.
    "We are all very optimistic. I see that there's a lot of positive energy among the people who just had two revolutions - there's a lot of voting and political awareness. God willing, I anticipate that the coming phase will witness a very high turnout. After the first and second successes that people participated in because they care about our country. We want everybody to participate so we can abolish this bribery approach that was followed by the large political parties previously in Egypt. At the time, independents have a good chance and God willing, this upcoming parliament will be the most serious in Egypt's history because it will turn the constitution into a legislative foundation and it will discuss more than 300 draft laws," Lotfy said.
    Prospective candidate Ali al-Sawah is running to represent al-Salam district.
    "I applied today and I had applied the last time when the elections were cancelled. Today, everything is in order and going well and smoothly. God willing, I hope that I will succeed, so I can serve the residents of my district and the country as a whole - because a member of parliament isn't just part of the district, but also a member of the nation. God willing, as per my occupation as a lawyer, my first ambition is to discuss the draft laws and amend them," he said.
    "The next parliament will not be like any other previous one - the upcoming parliament will be the most serious parliament. God willing, I hope we're up to the challenge and for the country to move forward," said another candidate running for Manshyet Nasser and Gamalya district.
    The House of Representatives is made up of 568 seats, with 448 elected as individuals and 120 through winner-takes-all lists, with quotas for women, Christians and youth. The president may appoint a number of people to the house, not exceeding 5 percent of its make-up.
    Military chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who went on to become president, toppled Egypt's first freely elected president, Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013 after mass protests against his rule.
    Egypt will prepare for elections facing several challenges, including the struggle to revive an economy battered by years of political turmoil following Mubarak's ouster and a stubborn Islamist militant insurgency based in the Sinai.
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