CAIRO: Egypt's presidential campaigns will officially begin in April after a public referendum on a new constitution is had, the country's state-run al-Ahram newspaper reported on Sunday. The report said that candidates applications will open in April, if a referendum on a new constitution – to be written by the new parliament – is completed. The newspaper quoted Mohamed Attiya, minister of parliamentary affairs, as saying that presidential elections would be held in the embattled country following the referendum. He said that the new constitution would be drafted by both the upper and lower houses of parliament once they are in power by the end of March. Political observers, however, told Bikyamasr.com that the timeline handed down by Attiya is unattainable. George Ishaq, a member of the National Coalition for Change, is uncertain that the timeline can be achieved, but is hopeful that elections will take place. “I don't think it will happen, but at least they are talking about it,” he said. Attiya also said that cabinet will discuss the presidential elections law Wednesday before presenting it to Egypt's military rulers for final approval. The legislative committee of the civilian Advisory Council, tasked with giving advice to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SSCAF), had offered amendments to the presidential elections law to Cabinet last week amid skepticism on the part of presidential hopefuls that the elections will indeed be held by June as scheduled. According to the regulations, candidates must be at least 40-years-old and will not be allowed to exceed their constitutional term in office which is four years, renewable once. Attiya added that the process of electing a new president “will be organized by a committee similar to the Supreme Electoral Commission which managed the recent parliamentary elections.” According to previous statements on the matter, the commission will be led by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court and will include the head of the Cairo Court of Appeals and other leading judges. The news is a positive step, however, leaders such as Ishaq are uncertain if it will mean an end to military rule over the country. “Only if the military says it will leave power and be subject to the new government will it succeed. If not, we want another revolution,” he added. Already, a number of candidates have put their names forward, including Mohamed ElBaradei, ultra-conservative Hazem Saleh Abu Ismail, moderate Islamic figure Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa and leading activist and former talk show host Botheina Kamel. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/CfhcE Tags: Candidates, Elections, featured, President, Referendum, SCAF Section: Egypt, Latest News
