Mubarak: Polls to boost legislative reform

Mubarak: Polls to boost legislative reform
Egypt

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak said that the parliamentary polls, scheduled to start on November 9, complement the drive for constitutional and legislative reform.

He added that the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) was seeking majority in the Parliament in order to back the government in achieving transformation to democracy and further improvement in people’s living standards.

 

Nazif said the upcoming parliamentary elections will be transparent
Egypt

Egypt’s Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif said the upcoming parliamentary elections will be transparent adding that the government is committed not to use government resources, facilities, worshipping places and schools in propaganda.

The meeting was presented with a report by Minister of Interior Habib el-Adly in which he said the ministry will do everything possible to secure transparency of elections and the participation of civil society organizations in monitoring elections.

Mubarak calls on election candidates to respect each other
Egypt

Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak in his capacity as the leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP) approved Thursday names of 444 candidates including 176 new faces who will run for the coming parliamentary election in 222 constituencies.

Following a three hour meeting with the members of the NDP’s election commission, Secretary-General of the NDP Safwat Al-Sherif said President Mubarak affirmed that democracy must be based on pluralism.

The President pointed out that the NDP was exercising a legitimate right in seeking to secure a majority, like the rest of other Egyptian parties, said Safwat Al-Sherif.

The president underscored the importance of commitment of all candidates and leaderships of the party to carrying out the “future parliament” plan, said Sherif following the president’s approval of names of the NDP candidates who will run in the coming People’s Assembly election.

Sherif said Mubarak also underscored the importance of geographic representation for every constituency with younger candidates being the favourites and supporting the female ones. He said a number of former NDP female members refrained from running in the elections this time for personal reasons, adding that the party would hold contacts with them to keep them in the NDP due to the successful role they had played.

According to Sherif, the NDP nominated 444 candidates nationwide although its members in the outgoing parliament are 388. He said Mubarak showed a number of reservations on a number of constituencies, pointing out that the higher nomination committee was discussing them.

Sherif said Mubarak called on the NDP to take into consideration the respect of candidates of other parties.

According to Sherif, President Mubarak will address mass rallies in several governorates.