National Election Authority logo- Egypt Today- Photo By Hussein TallalCAIRO – 29 January 2018: Egypt’s National Election Authority (NEA), headed by Judge Lasheen Ibrahim, will stop receiving application forms from potential candidates for the 2018 presidential election on Monday January 29, 2018, at 2 PM.Two hours away from closing the candidacy door, no potential candidates, except for President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, can compete for Egypt’s presidential election due in March, as he is the only one who finished submitting his candidacy papers to the NEA.Sisi's presidential campaign submitted his presidential candidacy papers to Egypt's National Elections Authority's headquarter in Cairo's Downtown early Wednesday.The official spokesperson of Sisi's presidential campaign, Mohamed Bahaa Abu Shoka, presented to the NEA Sisi's presidential candidacy papers, including public endorsements from citizens and from parliament members.Chairperson of El-Ghad Party, Moussa Mostafa Moussa, is expected to submit the documents required for the presidential candidacy to the National Election Authority (NEA) during the next two hours.Moussa underwent on Sunday the medical examination needed to assess his physical and mental conditions; he is getting "ready" for the 2018 presidential bid against incumbent President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, according to Moussa's statements to Egypt Today on Monday.Sources told Egypt Today earlier that Moussa received endorsements from 26 Members of Parliament- the majority of them represent Monufia Governorate- in order to announce his official presidential bid.Moussa vowed that he will resume projects and achievements that Sisi has begun and carried out throughout his first term in office. "I was a sincere supporter to Sisi, but now Sisi has become my contender. If no run-offs are necessary, the winner will be announced on April 2.The final list of the candidates will be announced on February 24; the deadline for any candidate to retreat will be on March 1. The primary results of the first round of the election will be announced on March 29, when decisions on appeals submitted by candidates, if any, will be made.If no candidate obtains the majority of votes, a three-day run-off round will commence in Egypt on April 24, and on April 19 abroad. The name of the winning candidate is set to be announced on May 1.

Source: Egypt Today January 29, 2018 09:56 UTC