Islamist presidential hopeful Mohamed Selim al-Awa submitted his presidential candidacy papers to the Presidential Elections Commission on Wednesday afternoon, with the signatures of 30 MPs from both houses of Parliament.
In a press conference outside the commission, Awa said that he collected the endorsements of MPs who represent a wide range of the political spectrum, Al-Masry Al-Youm reported.
Mohamed Moemen told state-run news agency MENA earlier on Wednesday that Awa received the signatures from lawmakers of the Salafi-oriented Nour Party, Wasat Party, Jama’a al-Islamiya’s Construction and Development Party and a number of independents.
He said the campaign preferred to submit the minimum number of signatures even though it had collected more than required.
Moemen said the campaign chose not to submit the 30,000 citizen signatures it had gathered because of concerns previously raised over violations, such as citizens endorsing more than one candidate, and Notary Authority problems that could invalidate certain signatures.
“We decided to avoid these problems, and we decided to use only those of the People’s Assembly and Shura Council members,” Moemen said.
Awa is an Islamist law professor who has been campaigning for years for the applicability of Sharia.
Commentators say that his chances are weak since he is challenged by notable Islamist figures such as Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, a moderate Islamist, the ultra-conservative Hazem Salah Abu Ismail and the Muslim Brotherhood’s former deputy Supreme Guide Khairat al-Shater.
In his press conference on Wednesday, Awa said the nomination of Khairat al-Shater would split the votes of Islamists.
He went on to say that such a split was not in the interest of Islamist candidates, and that no one could predict who would benefit from such a split until after the election.
Awa denied there were negotiations with him to concede to another Islamist candidate, saying everyone has the right to run as long as they believe they are suitable for the post. He also denied rumors that he has Syrian citizenship saying, “I carry Egyptian nationality, and the commission will announce all the facts about the candidates after the nomination door is closed.”
He pointed out that he decided to submit the MP signatures although he had collected over 40,000 citizen signatures in order to avoid any problems with the validity of these signatures.
Awa's name appeared on the Presidential Election Commission’s website as candidate number 11, the total number of candidates that have submitted their registration papers.
Awa last week had accused a “rival” of offering money for signatures in support of Awa to tarnish his reputation ahead of the presidential election.
In a phone interview on the privately owned Dream TV channel, Awa said his rival — who he refused to name — pretended to campaign for him in and around Cairo in cars with loudspeakers, allegedly offering people LE50 to sign in support of his candidacy.
Awa said he filed a report against the rival to the attorney general and the Presidential Elections Commission.
“This is an election bribe that I cannot accept. Its purpose is to smear my reputation,” he said, stressing that he didn’t ask anyone to do it and that he will not use the signatures.
Awa said he knows who was behind the bribery, but he will not announce his name until after the end of the election.
“If he wins, I will announce it. If not, I will not,” Awa said.
“There is a lot of chaos at the notary regarding official signatures of support. This is one of the shortcomings of the [Presidential Elections] Commission,” he said.
Luxor’s public prosecutor is conducting an investigation into accusations that notary employees forged signatures for another presidential hopeful, Amr Moussa.
Translated from MENA
