Mohamed Bahaa Abu Shaqa, spokesperson of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s electoral campaign, said that Egypt did not ban other candidates from running in the presidential elections in order to pave the way for Sisi’s victory. “Neither Sisi’s morals nor his dignity let him prevent any other person from running,” he said. The spokesperson pointed out that the Egyptian constitution guarantees electoral pluralism and that any eligible Egyptian citizen has been able to announce their candidacy. International criticismThe spokesperson’s comments come after a number of international and Egyptian human rights bodies launched heavy criticism against Egypt’s presidential election set for March 26-28. A host of presidential hopefuls either withdrew their election bids or were indirectly prevented from running in the vote by Egyptian authorities.

Source: Egypt Independent March 19, 2018 14:37 UTC