Campaigning for Egypt's presidential elections to begin

Egyptian presidential candidate and former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa waves during a campaign rally on the outskirts of Cairo. [Amr Dalsh/Reuters]

Egyptian presidential candidate and former Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa waves during a campaign rally on the outskirts of Cairo. [Amr Dalsh/Reuters]

  • COMMENT

    33

  • Print this article
  • increase decrease

Thirteen candidates for Egypt's upcoming presidential elections remain standing, out of an original 23 candidates, some of whom were later disqualified.

As they gear up for the campaign period -- slated to begin April 30th -- they must abide by a campaign spending ceiling and take modern means of advertising into consideration, officials said.

Egyptian television began taking steps to air the candidates' campaign advertising and will give all candidates equal screen time, said Alaa Abd Rabbo, editor-in-chief of political programmes for the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU), the governing body for Egypt's radio and TV programmes.

"Each candidate is allotted 30 minutes, five minutes for biographical information and the rest for the [candidate's] electoral platform, to be broadcast on nine TV channels as well as Radio Masr," Abd Rabbo said.

In addition to equal time slots allotted for the candidates, broadcasts will include instructional segments for citizens on the electoral process and how to vote, as well as news and follow-up reports on the work of the Higher Presidential Elections Commission (HPEC).

Media coverage of elections a 'major challenge'

Media coverage of the presidential elections represents a major challenge for Egyptian media, especially since free elections are taking place for the first time in the country's modern history, Dr. Hammad Zaki, a media professor at Cairo University, told Al-Shorfa.

"Therefore, it is natural for some problems or violations of HPEC rules to arise, foremost among them being the period allotted for campaign advertising and campaign spending limits," he said.

The campaign advertising period is to run from April 30th to May 21st and the campaign spending ceiling has been set at 10 million Egyptian pounds ($1.7 million) for the first round, and 2 million pounds ($331,000) for the run-off round.

Many candidates believe the amount is too small, Zaki said.

He said a recent study prepared by one of his colleagues, Dr. Abdel Moneim al-Sayyid, argued that it is impossible for candidates to stay below the spending ceiling due to the high cost of advertising in newspapers and on satellite channels.

The study concluded that an earnest campaign by any candidate would cost no less than 100 million pounds ($16.5 million).

"The advertising period is too short considering Egypt's vast geographical area and especially the fact that it comprises 27 provinces, making it impossible for candidates to cover all provinces in that period of time. For that reason, many candidates started their campaigns early before the rules and conditions were announced, which created considerable disparities between candidates," Zaki said.

He said he expects media coverage to be decidedly disproportionate and unbalanced, especially on satellite channels and over electronic media, though he praised the plan adopted by Egypt's official television channel and called for it to be rolled out to all Egyptian satellite channels.

Reviving the advertising industry

Setting spending limits for candidates has become difficult due to the emergence of new media and social networking sites, said Galal Yasser, director of the Yasser Publicity and Advertising Company.

"Election campaign advertising has moved from TV advertising or inundating the streets with posters to setting up Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and websites, and recruiting scores of young men to fill those sites with hundreds of daily news items about the candidate," Yasser said.

He said the presidential election has revived the advertising market in Egypt after a period of stagnation that began with the onset of Egypt's January 25 uprising.

Means of campaigning currently include cell phone text messages, social networking sites, street and wall posters, and old customs like affixing microphones to top of cars and roaming the suburbs and inner city streets, as well as holding elections rallies, replete with gifts and banquets, he said.

Some satellite channels have begun developing campaign advertising plans similar to Egypt's official television channel's plan and are working through their advertising agencies to persuade candidates to buy advertising time, Yasser said.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS ARTICLE? (TOTAL VOTES: 1)

0 Dislike(s)

ADD A COMMENT (COMMENT POLICY) * DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD

* DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD

  • READER COMMENTS

    ابو هبة

    2012-5-21

    On the contrary, the political experience in Egypt after the change and overthrow of the former regime has proceeded successfully and some lapses or disputes would not affect the process but the existence of problems or the multiplicity of political views in Egypt is a very positive thing and will bring more successive successes of the Egyptian experience in which the world will see what Egypt will become and the successes and victories that she will make in the field of political stability will cast its positive shadow on the Egyptian people who will see a safe and stable life after the leaders succeed in finding a common understanding among the political parties operating in the Egyptian arena. Therefore, I think that the experience of change in Egypt and its political experience will result to more successes and Egypt will move to the phase of real establishment of the life of democracy that the people of Egypt waited for years..

  • أبراهيم

    2012-5-21

    O God! Save Egypt from the current situation and crisis. We want all our Arab countries in our Muslim world to enjoy security and stability and to enjoy the development and progress. We do not want to see Egypt deteriorating, but we want to see it developing, as it is a Muslim and Arab state that is dear to all the Arabs and Muslims. Egypt has special status in our hearts and we feel annoyed when we see these sorrowful events in Egypt. I wish that all the brothers in Egypt, whether Muslims or Christians, would do their best to help their country through cooperation and solidarity so that they can lead their homeland out of the insecurity and into stability. The Egyptians should cooperate with the security forces and grant them their full respect. All the Egyptian citizens must respect the law because we realize that the country cannot change overnight, but this needs time and the new government must get the full chance to provide security and stability in the country and to attract the investors. The government needs calm to organize the elections successfully and democratically because continuity of these sorrowful events would give a bad idea to the Egyptian people about democracy that they could not use well until it started disappearing little by little because of the violence, which makes people accept dictatorship in order to end the violence and bloodshed and to restore security and stability. This is the most important thing because we do not want to lose more lives in this way in Egypt.

  • محمد

    2012-5-20

    I hope to God that He makes the future of Egypt better after the end of revolution led by its youth and we have ended the defunct Mubarak regime after thousands of victims. We think of the roadmapmap that will be followed in the coming future of Egypt, how the new president and his government will be, whether changing the president and the government will improve the conditions of the Egyptian citizen or will it only get worse, will the new president comfort the Egyptian citizen and provide a decent life to him? We are now thinking about what will happen, we chose the deputies of parliament and the sweeping majority of course of the Brothers and Salafis, of course the Muslim Brotherhood who have suffered from the oppression of the former regime, and we did not see any application in real life, but we found that who we chose do not understand anything about political life. I say we are in a transition period and we cannot judge them until the government and the new president are formed and we will have the opportunity to judge them after that, but the signs that come show we get false promises from the Military Council and an incapable Government that failed to run the country and a parliament in which the deputies only care about imposing their opinions on each other, without experience or knowledge of political life. even many of the problems have not been solved yet, for where is trial of Mubarak, which is delayed day after day, and Jamal and Alaa, who appear on television as if they're going on a trip, not to the trial, Habib el-Adli, who is ego-dominated to the point that he is waiting to be saluted by the security personnel and the accused members of the police, who killed hundreds of unarmed people who are defending their cause? We are waiting for presidential elections that are very close and formation of a new government and to see what's new, which they will offer to the citizens and parliament that we have chosen to represent us before the government. We want to see improvements in education, the economy and the elimination of unemployment and that a man can live a life of dignity, we have many ways to raise Egypt to a bright future and soon, God willing. We will see in Egypt long lasting progress for the better, promising a future better than we hope. God save Egypt and its people and take away all the evils.

  • خالد

    2012-5-20

    Where is trial of Mubarak, which is delayed day after day, and Jamal and Alaa, who appear on television as if they're going on a trip not to the trial, Habib el-Adli, whose is ego-dominated to the point that he is waiting to be saluted by security personnel and the accused of the police, who killed hundreds of unarmed people who are defending their cause.

  • علي

    2012-5-19

    Egypt is currently going through the most important stage in its existence, as we are now in the aftermath of the great revolution carried out by the youths of that country, who have proven that they are capable of doing anything for the sake of their country’s honor and freedom, and now during this transitional period, the Egyptian people have to choose the best man that deserves to govern the country and its great people. This person must know that he has to respect this people and the youths of this nation.

  • عبدالكريم طه

    2012-5-17

    This is after the decision of the Party of Light and the support of Abu Fotouh which decided the following, God willing: 1- I shall not issue any attack against the party of Light, this is a promise before Allah and before you all. 2 – I shall work seriously to support the candidate, Dr. Mohamed Morsi, God willing. I trust in Allah the Almighty in his victory of the tour. Initially, I thank God for what happened so that no one would be relying on others or ask for help from people, but only on the reliance on Allah and turning to Him and the hard work day and night to make this project succeed.

  • عبد الملك

    2012-5-17

    The easiest way is when the mind is unable to implement the arguments or provide solutions or constructive criticism without resorting to insults. What our revolution needs is much honesty and very little insulting mouths.

  • عبد الله

    2012-5-16

    Why and in the interest of whom does the Egyptian military want to commit the next parliament or the next elected authority to a document (Principles of Constitutionalism), known to the media as a peaceful document to force them to agree with it, whatever its content, whether its provisions were in favor of the secularists or the Islamists? Why don’t they let it go in the right direction in accordance with the will of the majority of the people, with respect for the minorities and the inviolability of their rights because they are a minority? Why do the people, the peaceful people or a group of people, put binding items on future generations? Is this not injustice against them? Is this not against their right of self-direction of the State policy and its institutions and peace that belongs to the liberal Wafd party, whose seats did not exceed 8 in the 2005 elections while the Brotherhood had 88 deputies in those elections despite the fact that they were fake. Then, it is necessary for the Government of Essam Sharaf to be the Deputy Prime Minister, whose deputy (as long as it is inevitable to this extent and, accordingly, there must be a statement of principles) would be from the largest political bloc on the scene that in the last election with one-fifth of the Parliament, and that this delegate would be assigned to issue the document of principles. This is not defending the Brotherhood, but rather, this is their right and the right of the Egyptian people to choose the style and way of their lives, and the internal and external policy of their country, including what they see as most appropriate for them. God willing, the crisis will be resolved and we will come out of those interactions and conspiracies. The people suffered a lot and can no longer bear the injustice again at the hands of the people of their race.

  • صباح

    2012-5-14

    I wonder about the elections in Egypt, which suffered for a long time from the oppression of the former regime. In fact, these elections are supposed to incarnate freedom and democracy in a country such as Egypt. Unfortunately, the current election process is marred by the same drawbacks. The process was too long because of the inadequate preparations. The country has been without leadership for over a year and the people were waiting for these elections. Every now and then authorities declared that they would be held soon. As for the presidential elections in Egypt, I have many reservations about the long time they have taken. This election has not been held so far. Secondly, most of the candidates receive too little public acceptance and satisfaction to lead the country. Besides, many presidential candidates are suspected of such crimes as the theft of public funds. In fact, some candidates are contractors who cooperated with the former regime. They abused the Egyptian people and stole their money. Some others were high officials during the former regime. Indeed, this makes me really surprised at these elections, which will eventually result in a reproduction of the former regime.

  • احمد عبد المنعم

    2012-5-14

    It has become necessary to hold presidential elections in Egypt in order to end with the crises, problems and objections and approvals of the Military Council’s decisions. The latter are responsible for involving the country in problems, given that some people think that this Council is biased toward some parties or it is not a legitimate power in the country. Thus, it is necessary to hold the elections, despite my objections to many presidential candidates. In fact, I feel that some of them are not taking things seriously. In this respect, candidates should be aware that they are going to lead the largest Arab country and a nation which has considerable importance at the regional and international level. Since they will lead Egypt, the Mother of the World, it is not acceptable that a farmer rules Egypt for example. Thus, we have to grant the opportunity to the educated and wise politicians. As far as I am concerned, the people will never vote for a lot of candidates, and even if there are dozens of them, the competition will be restricted to no more than two or three icons. In fact, there is really a considerable number of candidates who are respected by Egyptians and have a lot of supporters. Some other candidates were used to working with the former regime and many people are complaining about them. However, as I have just said, let’s let the elections nominate the one that people will select. In fact, I am totally confident that free Egyptians will choose an educated person who deserves to be the president of the country and the representative of Egypt in all events.

  • حسين

    2012-5-12

    The Islamists, according to my point of view, if they took control of the country and governance, will work hard so that the new Egyptian Constitution would be beneficial to their opinions and ideas. For instance, they assign it to a purely Islamic Constitution. This does not serve the country at this stage. In addition to that, it is true that they are Islamists, but a lot of their ideas are not the true ideas of Islam. Therefore, I think that the Egyptian people would not allow to having their own Islamic Constitution in their way. Perhaps, the Constitution could be moderate and not a Constitution containing the desire of such and such people or any other party. The country's Constitution must have all the rights of everyone and every citizen that dwells in Egypt, either Muslim or from any other religion. I think that everyone tends to accept a secular Constitution because it will not be applied in accordance with this principle. Everyone would have rights and also would not rule the country by way of intolerance or the rape of the rights of others. I expect the Egyptians want it this way because it is safer for them and because the Islamists are the reason for creating those fears for many through their fanatical ideas that they represent. Supposing that they were real Islamic ideas, not in this way and not in that intolerance, and the Islamists and al-Qaeda as well as other fanatical parties are bringing a different image of Islam because of a faulty transfer of ideas. Everyone will think that the religion is fanatical and there is no room for others in the land of Islam with science. We have lived with people of other religions for years and there is no pressure on them not to practice their religion and their rights. They are citizens just like us, and therefore, everyone must understand this so that things would be clear and positive rather than negative.

  • كامل حامد

    2012-5-12

    Honestly, I am one who feared that the Islamists were leading the country for one reason and not because they are Islamists, but perhaps their thoughts would dominate the country and the freedoms in the country. They will leave politics and work for the country and the people, and move towards making decisions, changing the laws and following up on clothes and other frivolous things, which are not supposed to be preoccupations of the State. The government must be engaged with the future of the country and with providing the comfort to its citizens. The issue is such and this is what we demand. It does not matter who receives the power or the government and who forms it. What is important is that he works for the development of the country, improves the conditions of work, serves the citizens, improves the economy, eradicates crises, and provides employment and housing, and nothing else. Meanwhile, there is apprehension by many that the Islamists will start to settle a lot of accounts with different artists, personalities, organizations, and others whose ideas they were exposed to previously, even though in a statement or in a criticism that was directed to them. Therefore, there was fear in fact and hopefully the Islamists will not work that way because they are the people who represent the Islamic religion, the religion of forgiving, loving and the following up of righteousness.

  • يعقوب محمد يوسف

    2012-5-12

    I hope that the future in Egypt would be better, particularly after the departure of Hosni Mubarak from governance and leadership of the country for many years while Egypt remained the same. I believe that the time has come to move towards a better future for this country. Whatever the future is, certainly it will be better than the future if Mubarak were in governance and his son Jamal behind him. It is possible for the people now to impose their view and alter what it deems inappropriate. The most important issue is that we have gotten our freedom and democracy which we will be able to hold any responsible person accountable. Even if he is the head of the State or the head of the parliament, it could cause his dismissal, as happened with Mubarak. So I think that the work will be better than before. Every official or president in the State, it will not matter who or from where he is. What is important is that he would be an Egyptian, love the country and want the goodness for the poor people. Once a democratically elected government is set up and the situation stabilizes, I think Egypt will change completely in the future. There will be many new projects, a new construction of the economy of the country, better citizen treatment, and care of him as required.

  • غالب الركابي

    2012-5-10

    In the coming days of this month the Egyptian people will choose the next president-elect of the country. In fact, the Egyptians are expected to exercise the greatest democratic process that has ever taken place in the Arab Republic of Egypt hitherto. The masses will exercise their freedom of choice when they reach the polls ballot in order to elect a president from among the Egyptian candidates. The latter represent the elite of Egyptian society. The Presidency candidates are keen to save Egypt from the ordeal that people had experienced for more than a year. God willing, they will reach the safe side. It should be noted that the process of democratic elections launched this month will include the election of the first President of the Egyptian State after the success of the revolution led by the Egyptian youth. The outcome of that revolution was the eradication of the dictatorial and authoritarian regime which was led by the ousted Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The latter dominated the Egyptian people for nearly 30 years. In this period, the Egyptian people suffered a lot of pain. They were deprived of different needs and human services, which led to the impatience of the Egyptian people. In fact, Egyptians were rather patient. They expected the former regime to respond to the needs of the people but to no avail. This situation led the masses to take to the streets to demand reform and change. The result was the overthrow of the shaky and lean regime which had no roots or popularity in the country. This was attributable to the gap between the regime and the Egyptian people.

  • أحمد

    2012-5-10

    Down with the next president! This is the slogan raised by the so- called revolutionaries and advocates of chaos and tampering. They raise this slogan even before they know the coming president. The latter is supposed to deal with a complicated legacy and a very difficult task. Indeed, it is almost impossible to reunite the companions of the past who turned into enemies. It is important for the new President to bring back stability to Egypt, the civilized country and the center of the region. Egypt is the cornerstone of the Arab Spring. We will see whether it’s a true spring or a mere mirage for the Arab nation, which is falling apart in favor of the Gulf monarchies, the Bedouins who own oil reserves and the international powers which manipulate them.

  • أحمد سامي

    2012-5-7

    Ahmed Shafik The Lieutenant general Ahmed Shafik agrees with Amr Moussa in a lot of things. Shafik is also one of the sons of the administrative system of the state where he served as Minister of Civil Aviation for about 9 years before taking over as Prime Minister during the last days of Mubarak. Shafik was one of the given names because he disagrees with Mubarak. He also belongs to the political oath but he has a military background as he graduated from the Air Force Academy and was included in the position until he became a commander in the Air Force. The age factor may have a negative impact as this man is at the age of 71 years. Shafik differs from Moussa because he is closer to the stability champ and more distant from the rows of the revolution. This earned him the enmity of the revolutionary movement but the referendum on the constitutional proclamation and the last parliamentary elections showed the revolutionary movements are not always the preferred choice for the majority of the Egyptian people.

  • عمادسعيد

    2012-5-5

    I hope the ruler will fear God in his treatment of the poor people! Enough with the oppression and tyranny! The people in political parties should tell us exactly what they want from the country! Isn’t what we have seen from the fallen National Democratic Party, enough?

  • منير عدنان

    2012-5-5

    This great people have been suffering from a state of slavery, ignorance, attempts to make them ignorant, underestimation and systematic disdain by the intellectual and the political as well as some religious, artistic and social elites for sixty years. In so doing, they aim to urge these people to applaud to the regime that enslaved people in a hysterical way, from the era of Nasser till the present. In fact, every time a world superpower emerges, the Egyptian elites call on the national Arabs to applaud them too, as if the emergence of Chinese, North Korean, Iranian, Russian, Indian, Brazilian, Venezuelan or any other country’s power in this world were an Arab, Egyptian, Saudi or Algerian power. May Allah distort their figures and distort whoever reads their rotten ideology which is deriving this stupid policy which is promoted by some people who are living in their graves. These people have become the joke after the emergence of a promising generation in the region that is inhabited by Arab and Islamic cultured people. Yes, I am certain He will break them and overthrow all the regimes which they have supported and contributed with to enslave the free people by means of fake slogans. May Allah distort these brains and these silly and rotten elites which are mentally and physically underdeveloped.

  • خالد

    2012-5-5

    People should not keep leaning on the Military Council which is considered as an extension of a ruling group that is manipulating and enslaving Egyptians. As a matter of fact, the bloody conflict in Egypt between the rebellious people and the military dictatorial institution which has been manipulating people for sixty years has been deferred to another conflict phase. This means that it is inevitable that the bloody conflict is deferred to a coming phase so that Egyptians will be able to obtain their right of freedom, get their right of self-determination and establish their own state that should respect their rights of life as human beings through the preservation of their dignity, blood, property, honor and religious belief and to achieve a better life. The latter is maintained through development rather than the false national slogans which enabled the enslavement of Egyptians, the violation of their honor, the enslavement and starving of their sons and the targeting of their existence as human beings which Allah has created and said that they are His best creation.

  • العراقي

    2012-5-4

    O God! I ask you to make Egypt a safe, rich, stable, and secure state. O God! Protect Egypt from the epidemics and plagues as well as all turbulences and diseases. O God! You told us in Your Book that Egypt is a safe and blessed state, when the prophet Joseph said “enter Egypt safely, God willing”. Hence, Egypt is a secure state and we ask you to help them to choose their just leaders who give precedence to the interests of their people over anything else. O God! Facilitate the elections and enable them to take their country safely to the democracy. O God! Unite their ranks and guide their steps to choose those who represent them in the presidential elections. O God! Make him among your best slaves who are keen on achieving the interests of their people so that Egypt can escape from the tough era during which they suffered terribly because of the deviance of the rulers and their love of money, while the people were left to die from hunger and poverty. However, the Egyptians became united and they stood in the face of the oppressors until they deposed them. Today, they prepare themselves to organize the democratic elections that will lead them towards the social justice and equality. Hence, we ask God the Almighty to guide the Egyptians to take the right decision and vote for the personality that deserves to lead the state in the future. They should not allow the mass media and propaganda to affect their decision or direct them to support a certain group without rights, because this would take them back to square one of the troubles and instability that embittered their life under the former regime. O God! Help them to get to the safe side. Under the new leadership, which will be elected by the majority of the Egyptian people to achieve the security, stability and flourishing and to remove the injustice and end the suffering of the people. O God! Provide Egypt with security and good leadership that rules them justly and makes ...

  • علاء اللامي

    2012-5-4

    I ask God to guide the people of Egypt through the transitional period safely and securely. To achieve this purpose, the Egyptians are required to cooperate and set their disagreements aside. The most dangerous problem that may face Egypt at this stage is allowing a certain party to control the power. This would not be in the interest of the Egyptians, because the party that represents the absolute majority in the power would not take fair decisions. The next problem would be the large number of political parties and their ceaseless disagreements and lack of cooperation as well as favoring their own interests only. Oh God! Make them agree. Amen Oh lord of the worlds, as they are the best of your soldiers on earth. The worst problem ever is the military rule in Egypt, which is very necessary to protect the state. The army protected the revolution and the people and any confrontation between the people and the army is very dangerous to the security of Egypt. This is what the enemies of Egypt want. Oh God! Protect our military forces from all evils, as they are our brothers and children. Oh God! Protect the people of Egypt from any troubles between the people and the army. Oh God! Shield the Egyptian people against the conspiracies. The Egyptian people must be prepared to pass through this stage in order to make this democratic process succeed. They have to leave their disagreements aside and to unify their efforts to decide their future.

  • اسيل عبد الفتاح

    2012-5-3

    Praise be to God because the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are those who have been selected and their victory over the post of the President of the Republic because they will lead Egypt towards the better and will work unexpectedly. Yes, thankfully, because Egypt is in dire need of such a group who has to keep control of the situation there and because they know the limits of God the Almighty, they will do everything that is good and beneficial.

  • نوال عزيز

    2012-5-3

    The Egyptians themselves are the ones who have chosen, no one told them and I hope from God all goodness and success for them, and hopefully, their happiness would grow and no one intentionally commits any problems.

  • فتحي مسرور

    2012-5-3

    The elections in Egypt are becoming a farce and all the things happening there include the fact that each party wants to be the leader, and be first and last. Those are bad signs for the situation in Egypt that every party wants to be the only one. Unfortunately, all of them are simply seeking positions and no one is seeking anything good. All their worries are about a class winning in order to gobble up the rights of every poor Egyptian. I call on Allah for all those who do not want goodness for Egypt that no one will elect them, God willing; for this one concern. As for the other issues, one that annoys us very much is that citizens are competing for such and such candidates and everyone belonging to a certain party asks others to come to them and these things are not good but are bad habits. The Egyptian people are now like an old man who starts rambling after becoming old. This is neither good nor acceptable. I hope the situation in Egypt will improve without any more problems and no serious consequences. And I hope that Allah the Almighty will make everything move towards better conditions. Egypt and the Egyptians do not need to argue among themselves, as it is not a time to fight but a time to be the people who are working for their country and moving for improvement of their situation. I hope that the coming elections will move ahead at its best Amen, Lord of the universe.

  • يعقوب محمد

    2012-5-3

    It is important and very essential that Egyptians pursue the elections in order to get out of the situation they are currently experiencing, and I'm one of those interested in the Egyptian elections that are being held now. I hope that it will go well and that the candidates are Egyptians who love Egypt and are ready to bring Egypt to a better situation than what it had in the past and more. I wish all the best and all the success for Egypt so the situation will stabilize there and that Egyptians will live better lives and without those issues they are facing. Egypt might have been one of the countries that ended badly but the Egyptians were determined their country would be one of the best Arab countries, and the elections that are being held now are one of the best, and we hope that things are going very well and that the elections there would be fair and free of problems. I invite all the Egyptians to raise their voices largely to give Egypt her rights and make her days as good as the days during which Egypt was mother of the world. What happened in Egypt are intractable issues that we must find a solution to and the Egyptians want to live their lives like the rest of the Arab States. I hope that everything will turn out very well and the elections will go as best as they can, and I hope that all Egyptians will do everything possible in order to bring Egypt to her best conditions and that the elections will lead Egypt to the situation they want. I hope that every Egyptian will vote for the one who is really able to fully take the responsibility for Egypt. God willing, everything will be moving for the better and this is what we want.

  • ليلى احمد صايل

    2012-5-3

    I pray daily to Allah the Almighty, whether the Muslim Brotherhood or other parties win the elections, that Egypt will get back or become even better than it was in the past and be among the best Arab countries in terms of progress and development. I wish all well being and success for them. In order for Egypt to become better than it was in the past, the Muslim Brotherhood will have to work on making Egypt the mother of the world and carry on with its construction and building to give everyone his right and not break their promise like the rest of the governments to give the poor full attention and leave the rich alone. Not that they do not give the rich their rights while not doing anything for the poor either, but they must be equal in terms of justice and Allah has obliged justice and charity, and giving each one his rights whether he is poor or rich. Allah is the Rich One. What we want them to do is remove all the concerns from every Egyptian household and not to make quick decisions but only after counseling, and they should follow the approach of the true Islamic religion and not discredit it, no matter what happens. They also should not take pride in unrighteousness and take things seriously, but with joy and a smile and every good issue. I call Allah so they would be with every Egyptian household and provide the needs of every Egyptian family without excluding anyone. I hope they resolve the problems calmly and deliberately and will resolve the issues of the Islamic religion quietly because Egypt is one of the countries that are open to the world. The Egyptians have taken their freedom significantly and issues of clothing or bars or other things that are more important have to be solved gradually and rationally in order to avoid problems and calamities.

  • ضحى العربي

    2012-5-2

    The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt are after all the people of Egypt, and if they win the presidency, then this proves that the Egyptian people have chosen them. Change in the government is necessary, and everyone has to put the interests of the Egyptian people first and above everything else, and there should be no other tendencies or selfish interests, because in the past there were always ambitions and selfish interests that in the end led to the weakening and the collapse of the previous government. As such, it is necessary for anyone, whether it be the Muslim Brotherhood or the other blocs, to learn from past mistakes and to not allow any breaches, mistakes, negligence, neglect, violations, or abuses of the rights of Egyptian citizens, regardless of how minimal these are, because this will be the factor that determines the fate of the government, and mistakes are not allowed in this regard at all. There needs to be a move towards a brighter future, and one with more hope and prosperity, where services are provided to the Egyptian people that have suffered tremendously from poverty, hunger, diseases, corruption, lack of education, unemployment and lack of many services that should have been provided to the citizens, but neglect was the order of the day.

  • محمد محمد طوسون

    2012-5-2

    I pray to God that the next president of Egypt will be Amr Moussa.

  • هديل عدنان

    2012-5-2

    The presidential elections that are underway in Egypt and which are to be held are not going in the proper manner, as they are being held in a disorganized manner and without professionalism and without the supervision and monitoring of fairness committees and in public view. As such, it is very important to take into consideration the fact that these elections will determine who will become the president of Egypt. This ought to be done with a higher level of care and attention and monitoring, and there should be credibility, trustworthiness and fairness on the part of those in charge of this issue, it should be done under the supervision of committees that work in order to obtain real results which all the Egyptian people are waiting for, and there should not be any fraud or tampering with votes, and the operation should be carried out with all honesty and honor, because the Egyptian people have suffered a long time as a result of what happened and the very bad, harsh and difficult circumstances that most of the Egyptian people have gone through, and they have revolted so that they can restore their rights and get rid of injustice, oppression, fraud or neglect of their rights.

  • حازم مصطفى االغلبان

    2012-4-30

    The article is very good, but when are the elections going to be held?

  • ابويوسف

    2012-4-30

    I hope the ruler will fear God for his poor people, and enough with the oppression and tyranny. As for the people of the political parties, what do they want from the country? Is it not enough that we saw the law party, i.e. the National Democratic Party, and its mean people?

  • tarek alnjar

    2012-4-29

    I don't know anything about any of the candidates.

  • محمد عليان

    2012-4-27

    The Egyptian people will choose the president without any hegemony.