CAIRO: Egypt’s long-awaited parliamentary election process kicked off Tuesday as the High Elections Commission (HEC) opened the window for possible candidates to run for seats of the House of the Representatives.
Outside the courts of first instances Wednesday, thousands of Egyptians submitted nomination requests for the parliamentary seats. According to the HEC timetable, the nomination process will last for 12 days.
The HEC announced Monday that a candidate should be medically checked to avoid nominees suffer from mental and psychological diseases.
Medical checks on the candidates will begin Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in 40 hospitals nationwide according to the HEC rules, Health Ministry spokesperson Houssam Abdel Ghafar announced Monday.
The election will be held in two phases; the first round beginning Oct. 17 and 18 for expatriates who were born in the 10 governorates of Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, New Valley, Sohag, Qena , Luxor, Aswan, Red Sea, Alexandria, Beheira, and Marsa Matrouh. Meanwhile the Egyptians inside their country will vote on Oct. 18 and 19 in these governorates.
The expats in the second phase will cast their votes Nov. 21 and 22, while domestic Egyptians will vote on Nov. 22 and 23. The second phase includes governorates of Cairo, and Qalyobia, Dakahlia, Menoufia, Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, al-Sharqia, Damietta, Port Said, Ismailia, Suez, North Sinai, and South Sinai,
Run-off elections of the first phase will be carried out Oct. 26 and 27 for expats and Oct. 27 and 28 inside Egypt.
Meanwhile, run-offs in the second round will be held Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 for expats and Dec. 1 and 2 in Egypt.
The elections were scheduled to be held in March; however, it was adjourned per a court ruling.