Alexandria’s Security Directorate rejected the applications of several candidates of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party last week, prompting a sit-in by FJP members inside the directorate building. Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood mobilized supporters at Eid celebrations by distributing Egyptian flags bearing the party’s logo, meat and vegetables and bags of toys to children. On the economic front, a visiting IMF delegation has completed its mission to Cairo, concluding that the country faces economic challenges in the short-term but providing no details on whether the interim government will renew its request for a multi-billion dollar financing package.
ELECTIONS:
Alexandria’s Security Directorate rejected the applications of several candidates of the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party last week, provoking a sit-in by FJP members inside the directorate building. The FJP members agreed to end their sit-in after leading Brotherhood member Sobhi Saleh negotiated a 48-hour deadline for accepting the disqualified candidates’ registration papers with Alexandria’s security director, Khaled Shalaby. [Al-Shorouk, Arabic, 11/7/2011]
Three weeks ahead of parliamentary elections, the Muslim Brotherhood mobilized supporters at Eid celebrations by distributing Egyptian flags bearing the party’s logo, meat and vegetables and bags of toys to children. Freedom and Justice Party members are actively campaigning under the religious slogan, "Islam is the solution," which had been banned under Mubarak’s rule. [Al-Ahram, English, 11/7/2011]
The Freedom and Justice Party’s secretary general, Hussein Ibrahim, accused Deputy Interior Minister Refaat Kamsan (who is responsible for securing November elections) of enabling fraud and ballot-rigging in last year’s parliamentary elections and warned him against resorting to the same tactics in the upcoming vote. Kamsan served as a police general under former Interior Minister Habib El-Adly. [Al-Ahram, English, 11/7/2011]
Following Eid prayers on November 6, young men in the Delta city of Mansoura tore down and burned banners of several candidates affiliated with the NDP. [Al-Ahram, English, 11/7/2011]
EXPATRIATE VOTING:
The Higher Electoral Commission (HEC) is seeking to amend the interim constitutional declaration to enable Egyptians abroad to vote in upcoming elections. A potential obstacle to expatriate voting is Article 39 of the current interim constitution, which requires that voting be conducted under judicial supervision. This article must be revised in order to allow Egyptian embassies to assume the judiciary’s supervisory role at polling stations abroad. [Al-Ahram, English, 11/7/2011]
The Higher Electoral Commission has called on Egyptians abroad to register in an online database of expatriate voters through the website of the Supreme Judiciary Committee for Elections as well as their local embassies and consulates. Online registration for expatriates will take place from November 10-19. [Al-Masry al-Youm, Arabic, 11/7/2011] [Al-Shorouk, Arabic, 11/7/2011]
ECONOMY:
An IMF delegation has completed its mission to Cairo, concluding that the country faces economic challenges in the short-term but providing no details on whether the interim government will renew its request for a multi-billion dollar financing package. Finance Minister Hazem al-Beblawi recently stated that Egypt is open to IMF funding but has not made any formal request since turning down an initial assistance offer in June 2011. [The Daily News Egypt, English, 11/7/2011]
HURGHADA BUS CRASH:
Eleven Hungarian tourists were killed and 27 more injured after their bus overturned in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada. Poor road conditions and lax enforcement of traffic laws are blamed for the high accident rate in Egypt. [BBC, English, 11/7/2011]
Photo credit: Ahram Online.
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