Former Vice President Omar Suleiman submitted his candidacy papers for the presidency on Sunday, 20 minutes before the door was closed to further nominations.
Suleiman arrived in his car amid dozens of his supporters and tight security measures.
Suleiman’s supporters chanted “The people want Suleiman for president,” while reporters were unable to reach Suleiman due to the security cordon formed around him.
Candidates running for president need to obtain 30,000 endorsements from citizens in 15 governorates or the support of 30 MPs.
Suleiman has submitted more than 30,000 popular endorsements from citizens across Egypt, the Presidential Elections Commission said on its website.
Suleiman backtracked on a previous decision not to run in the election.
"I cannot but meet the call and run in the presidential race despite the constraints and difficulties I made clear in my former statement. I promise to reverse my earlier decision if the needed signatures are ready Saturday," he said in a statement Friday.
His decision sparked worries among revolutionary groups and political players that the coming elections may reproduce the fallen Mubarak regime.
Suleiman served as the head of Egypt's General Intelligence Services from 1993 to 29 January 2011, when Mubarak appointed him as vice president in response to massive protests calling for political reform.
Suleiman read the famous resignation speech on behalf of the toppled president on 11 February 2011.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
