CAIRO: A mission of 15 international observers arrived in Cairo airport late Tuesday to monitor Egypt’s parliamentary elections that will kick off Sunday, Youm7 reported.
“The observers are part of the local – international mission to follow up Egypt’s parliamentary elections which comprises 300 observers from local, regional and international organizations based in the 28 EU member states, U.S.A. and Middle East countries” the mission’s spokesperson Ayman Okeil told Youm7.
The mission will deploy 150 international observers to monitor the parliamentary election’s first phase that will start Sunday in 14 governorates, Okeil said.
Members of the mission will observe and analyze violations and violence incidents during the elections process from Oct. 18 to 28.
“The observers will monitor several aspects including the voting process in random polling stations, the performance of governmental bodies in administering the process and the access to and conduct of media within polling stations,” Okeil added.
Earlier this month, the High Elections Committee (HEC) said 17,465 local observers from 81 local organizations and 717 foreign observers from seven international organizations would monitor the first phase of the elections.
A total of 16,000 judges will oversee the first phase of Egypt’s parliamentary elections in 103 electoral districts across the country.
Egypt has not had a parliament since June 2012, after the Islamist-dominated People’s Assembly was dissolved per a court order about six months after its election.