EGYPTIAN ELECTIONS COMMITTEE APPROVES INTERNATIONAL MONITORING

Cairo, 16 Rabiul Akhir 1434/26 February 2013 (MINA) – The High Elections Committee agreed to allow four international and 50 local organizations to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Permission has been granted to the Carter Center, the Electoral Institute for the Sustainability of Democracy in Africa, International Democracy and the Election Network in the Arab World, according to Egypt Independent report monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA), Tuesday.

“We have issued permits for all of them,” said committee spokesperson Hesham Mokhtar, adding that the committee declined requests from 13 local organizations due to their lack of expertise.

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The committee issued 870 licenses to the international organizations’ members, in addition to 120 licenses for translators. The committee also issued 90,821 licenses to members of local organizations, Mokhtar said.

The committee would decide on dates, procedures and campaigning regulations on Tuesday, he added.

Mursi issued parliamentary elections will be held April 22, in which the previously scheduled to begin April 27. However, as Coptic Christians who stated the date contradict with their Easter day, government finally moved it forward.

According to Ahram report, parliamentary elections will be divided into four stages. The first phase, lasting 22 and 23 April will take place in Cairo, Beheira, El-Minya, Port Said and North Sinai.

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The second phase, will be held 11 and 12 May in Giza, Alexandria, Sohag, Beni Suef, Aswan, Suez, Red Sea and New Valley.

The third stage, on 28 and 29 May will take place Daqahliyah, Qaluibiya, Menufiya, Qena, Damietta, Luxor, Matrouh and South Sinai.

The final round is scheduled to take place on 15 and 16 June in Sharqiya, Gharbiya, Assiut, Kafr El-Sheikh, Fayoum and Ismailia.

For the sustainability of the election, Mursi invited all opposition parties to talks on Monday (25/2), related to the statement that opposition parties to boycott the election.

However, one of the opposition parties, National Salvation Font, declined the invitation, where the opposition has many times refused the invitation to dialogue since Mursi’s Amendment in 2012 inviting protests. (T/P03/E1)

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)