The spread of rumors regarding candidate arrests and the activity of competitors is one of the Muslim Brotherhood’s (MB) prevailing campaign tactics, reports privately-owned Al-Shorouk, in lengthy coverage based on a number of documents the paper obtained concerning Brotherhood candidacy bids in the upcoming parliamentary poll.
As November elections approach, the Brotherhood is increasingly faced with allegations of lies regarding electoral transgressions against its candidates. The group must also cope with opposition party objections to its insistence on using the slogan “Islam is the Solution.” The competition between Brotherhood candidates and National Democratic Party (NDP) candidates also continues unabated in several districts.
But privately-owned Al-Dostour reports state security forces in Alexandria opened fire on supporters of Brotherhood candidate Mahmoud Attiya and arrested three of them while hanging campaign materials. State-run Rose Al-Youssef confirms the arrests but disputes the allegations of security violence.
Al-Wafd, published by the liberal Wafd party, reports the High Elections Committee in Alexandria has removed the names of 50 MB candidates, including two former members of parliament, vying for workers’ seats. MB spokesmen Essam al-Eryan said the Brotherhood will take legal measures to address the exclusion of its candidates.
Also in response, the Brotherhood released a statement pledging the candidacy removals will not go without stern counter-action, reports Al-Wafd. The statement stressed that all options are on the table in trying to gain the constitutional right for parliamentary election participation. The statement also emphasized the Brotherhood's faith in Egypt’s judiciary.
Candidates whose names were removed weren't given justification from the head of Alexandria’s primary court, according to statement. Moreover, head of the Brotherhood's executive office in Alexandria, Hussein Ibrahim–also one of those removed from the slate–appealed to the international community to confront the alleged irregularities.
President of the High Elections Committee, Al-Sayyid Omar, however, denied the MB allegations and stressed the neutrality of the commission, according to Rose Al-Youssef. The commission is not capable of removing candidates, Omar added. Instead it must present a demand to the Administrative Court, which in turn determines if certain candidates are in violation of the regulations put forth by the High Elections Committee. Omar denounced the “outlawed’s” attempt to influence voters by spreading lies and casting doubt on the integrity of the committee.
The Brotherhood’s insistence on using the slogan “Islam is the Solution” continues to elicit objections from several critics, including opposition parties. The Wafd party’s polibureau released a statement Tuesday stressing the need to remove all candidates who use the slogan, reports state-run Rose Al-Youssef. President of Tagammu party, Rifaat al-Said argued the slogan is against religion, and criticized the Brotherhood for using religion in politics, says Al-Akhbar.
The Brotherhood's intransigence in this regard is a direct challenge to the parameters set forth by the High Elections Committee and constitutes a violation of the political rights law, according to the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights, reports state-run Al-Ahram.
Finally, NDP-Brotherhood competition continues unabated in several districts. State-run Al-Akhbar reports the Muslim Brotherhood has nominated two candidates to compete over the workers’ seat in Helwan, in an attempt to confront the NDP, which has nominated strong candidates, including Minister of Military Production Sayyid Meshal. A total of 10 candidates are competing over the workers’ seat.
In the Ossim district of October 6, the NDP has nominated a religious scholar from Al-Azhar to compete against Brotherhood candidate Mahmoud Amer, according to Al-Akhbar. In the district of Bandar Al-Fayoum, where the “outlawed” has held two seats for two consecutive rounds, the NDP has nominated six candidates in an attempt to weaken the Brotherhood’ position, according to state-run Al-Ahram.
In other news, excluded NDP candidates have demanded the immediate initiation of investigations against the party’s secretaries in various governorates, pointing out that “hidden” hands are behind their exclusion in favor of unpopular candidates, reports Al-Dostour. Finally, President Mohammed Hosni Mubarak will meet with the NDP’s Supreme Policies Council on Wednesday to discuss the party’s 2010 electoral program, reports Al-Ahram.
Egypt's papers:
Al-Ahram: Daily, state-run, largest distribution in Egypt
Al-Akhbar: Daily, state-run, second to Al-Ahram in institutional size
Al-Gomhorriya: Daily, state-run
Rose el-Youssef: Daily, state-run, close to the National Democratic Party's Policies Secretariat
Al-Dostour: Daily, privately owned
Al-Shorouk: Daily, privately owned
Al-Wafd: Daily, published by the liberal Wafd Party
Al-Arabi: Weekly, published by the Arab Nasserist party
Youm7: Weekly, privately owned
Sawt el-Umma: Weekly, privately owned
