Top News: Presidential Election Slated for May 23-24

Egyptian woman puts vote in ballot

Egypt’s presidential election will take place May 23-24 with results expected on June 21, according to the head of the Election Commission, Farouk Sultan. The SCAF has pledged to turn over power to a civilian government after a new president is chosen, but it has not set a date for the transfer.

ELECTIONS: 

1) Egypt’s presidential election will take place May 23-24 with results expected on June 21, according to the head of the Election Commission, Farouk Sultan. The SCAF has pledged to turn over power to a civilian government after a new president is chosen, but it has not set a date for the transfer. [Washington Post, English, 2/29/2012] [al-Ahram, English, 2/29/2012]

2) General Mamdouh Qutb, the former director-general of Egypt’s intelligence service, has declared his presidential candidacy, the second former intelligence officer to do so after Hossam Khairallah, former deputy-chief of the General Intelligence Services. [al-Ahram, English, 2/29/2012] [al-Masry al-Youm, Arabic, 2/29/2012] 

PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY: 

3) The Free Egyptians Party has named Ahmed Said the new head of the party’s parliamentary bloc following the resignation of Qasr El-Nil MP Mohamed Abu Hamed as party chairman. [al-Ahram, English, 2/29/2012] [al-Masry al-Youm, Arabic, 2/29/2012]

NGO INVESTIGATION: 

4) Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Egypt is "coming to understand" that Washington was serious in its threat to cut off $1.55 billion in annual military aid. "We are engaged in very intensive discussions with the Egyptian government about finding a solution," Clinton said during a Senate hearing. "We’ve had a lot of very tough conversations, and I think we’re … moving toward a resolution. We’re hoping to resolve this very soon,” she said. [al-Ahram, English, 2/29/2012] 

5) Egypt has lifted a travel ban on seven Americans employed by U.S. NGOs in Cairo, including the son of U.S. Transportation secretary Ray LaHood. Egyptian officials said the travel ban was lifted by the country’s top prosecutor at the recommendation of the case’s investigating judge. It was not immediately clear whether the charges against the indicted Americans would be dropped. Judicial sources told al-Masry al-Youm that the removal of the ban was the result of pressure from U.S. officials on Egypt’s judiciary. [AP, English, 2/29/2012] [al-Masry al-Youm, Arabic, 2/29/2012] 

6) Three judges assigned to the trial of 43 foreign and Egyptian NGO workers have abruptly recused themselves from the case ‘for reasons of discomfort.’ Their recusal means that the lawsuit will need to be transferred to another district court, potentially delaying the trial, previously slated to resume on April 26. [al-Ahram, English, 2/29/2012] 

ECONOMY: 

7) Egypt’s interim government will need to implement austerity measures to comply with the terms of a $3.2 billion IMF agreement, requiring a reduction of Egypt’s budget deficit. The IMF has asked Egypt to draw up an economic reform plan with benchmarks and targets, sell the plan to the country’s political forces, and line up aid pledges from other donors. Earlier in February, the Finance Ministry approved an economic plan (not yet disclosed to the public) that would run for the duration of the 18-month IMF program, and said Egypt planned to reach a formal agreement with the IMF by March. [Reuters, English, 2/29/2012] 

Photo Credit: Press TV

Image: egyptianballot.jpg