The moderate Wasat Party has invited presidential candidates to an urgent meeting scheduled for late Monday to discuss ways to respond to former intelligence chief Omar Suleiman’s candidacy in the upcoming race.
Suleiman submitted his candidacy application as an independent runner Sunday, 20 minutes before the application period closed at 2 pm. He reportedly relied on nearly 100,000 notarized endorsements from supporters, far more than the 30,000 required by law.
Mixed reports abounded in the weeks leading up to the deadline over Suleiman’s intention to run in the race, slated for 23 and 24 May. In a statement Friday, Suleiman said he reversed his decision not to run after mounting popular pressures demanded that he participate.
His move has caused a political uproar, with many fearing that his nomination might be an attempt to resuscitate the regime of toppled President Hosni Mubarak.
Wasat Party sources said candidates Amr Moussa, Mohamed Selim al-Awa, Hesham al-Bastawisi, Ayman Nour and Abul Ezz al-Hariry agreed to attend, and added that contacts are being made with other hopefuls.
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. He read the famous resignation speech on behalf of the ousted leader on 11 February last year.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
