The political arena in Egypt on Sunday was in turmoil after ten of the 23 candidates in the presidential elections were banned. The country's electoral commission has decided that Khairat al-Shater from the Muslim Brotherhood, the Salafist Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, the former vice president Omar Suleiman, and the leader of the Ghad Party, Ayman Nour, are among the unqualified candidates.
All of them have not met the requirements for citizenship, signatures and other criteria, said Farouk Sultan, head of the Commission. These disqualified candidates may appeal the decision of the Electoral Commission within 48 hours.
"The decision demonstrates honesty and transparency of the Commission," Ramadan Batikh, professor of constitutional law told the public television channel. "It is based on legal grounds and not on pressure from the public or the gathering of millions of people," he said.
The Commission's decision allowed the race for favorites such as Islamist Mohamed Aboul Fotouh, the president of the Party for Freedom and Justice, Mohamed Morsi, the former head of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik.
The Egyptian presidential election will be held on May 23 and 24, and the final list of qualified candidates will be announced April 26.
