Egypt’s election authority pledges transparency in presidential polls, will release timetable Monday

CAIRO – 20 September 2023: The National Election Authority (NEA) has pledged neutrality and transparency while holding the upcoming presidential elections, whose timetable will be announced on Monday.

Ahmed Bendari, the executive director of the National Election Authority (NEA), invited media to attend a press conference for the authority on Monday at the Cairo International Convention Centre in Nasr City.

Judge Walid Hassan Hamza, the head of the NEA, will announce the election timetable during the presser, said Bendari.

The NEA pledges to guarantee the right of presidential candidates who comply with the legal requirements to run for elections, Bendari affirmed.

He added that the NEA will set the timeframe for presidential campaigns in order for the candidates to present their programs.

“The NEA maintains equal distance from all presidential candidates willing to run for elections,” Bendari said.

Presidential elections will be held with transparency and under full judicial supervision, he affirmed.

In this regard, Bendari said the NEA will not hesitate to take measures against people or institutions attempting to question the integrity of its work in holding the elections.

Presidential candidates will be allowed to have representatives at polling stations to supervise the voting and sorting processes, he added.

The NEA urges state institutions and authorities as well as media to adhere to neutrality and objectivity while covering elections, Bendari affirmed.

He also called for all eligible citizens to cast their ballot in the elections, affirming that “the Egyptian people are the sole source of authority and have the full right to choose their president.”

Egypt is preparing for its fifth multi-candidate presidential elections and its third since the 30th of June 2013 Revolution.

Several leading figures from renowned political parties have announced plans to run for elections, including Abdel-Sanad Yamama, head of El-Wafd Party and Hazem Oman, head of the People’s Republican Party.

The constitution does not give the right for a president to run for a third term. However, constitutional amendments in 2019 stretched the presidential term to six years instead of four.

Therefore, incumbent President Sisi, who has been serving since 2014, exceptionally has the right to run for a third term until 2030.

Sisi has not announced plans to run for elections to date. However, tens of political parties and unions have announced support to his potential candidacy, including the parliamentary majority party Mostaqbal Watan.