The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) has renewed its refusal of international observers to monitor parliamentary elections slated for 28 November, saying that allowing monitoring would impinge on Egyptian sovereignty. “Egypt has its own constitutional electoral system that regulates the election process and provides it with independence and the ability to manage impartially,” NDP Secretary-General Safwat al-Sherif told reporters The US has repeatedly urged Egypt to welcome international election monitors to complement local observers and media coverage. Countries that accept international monitoring are “new, unstable countries," al-Sherif said. "They may also be looking for legitimacy. They may accept foreign pressures, or consider it a kind of luxury.” “No pressures are imposed on Egypt," he added. "We are a country of sovereignty and civilization. We trust our abilities to conduct elections.” Al-Sherif also defended the ability of civil society organizations to monitor the poll. Representatives of the Egyptian Alliance to Monitor Elections on Monday expressed concern, however, regarding the High Election Commission's decisions on civil society monitoring. The alliance, composed of 123 rights groups, along with other activist blocs has threatened not to participate in the observation in the event that the High Election Commission doesn't meet certain requests.
