Egyptian opposition figure and former parliamentarian Ahmed Tantawi announced Friday that he had collected only about half of the powers of attorney required to run for Egypt's presidency.
Since the National Elections Authority announced the opening of candidacy on October 14, Tantawi has collected more than <>,<> power of attorney, his campaign manager said at a press conference Friday in downtown Cairo.
To complete his candidacy for the presidential elections scheduled for December, Tantawi, 44, must collect 25,15 power of attorney from citizens from 27 of the country's 20 governorates, or obtain at least 14 "recommendations" from members of parliament before candidacy closes on October <>.
It is noteworthy that Tantawi – who served as a member of parliament and the position of head of the Karama political party in Egypt – announced last March his intention to run for the next presidential elections in order to present a "democratic alternative", and began his election campaign with tours in the governorates, and submitted to the Supreme Election Authority in Egypt a petition that includes several demands to ensure the integrity of the upcoming electoral process.
Last week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi formally submitted his candidacy papers for a third term in December's election, which he is likely to win.
Sisi received 424 recommendations from the 596 members of parliament and more than 1.1 million power of attorney.
"If real elections were held, he would not get more than 1% of the vote," Tantawi commented.
Since it began its work, Tantawi's campaign has repeatedly declared that his supporters are deliberately denied power of attorney under various pretexts: computer failures and staff lack of time.
Dozens of members of the campaign were also arrested and referred to prosecutors. The campaign manager told Friday's conference that the number was 132.
Voting in Egypt's presidential election will take place from December 10 to 12, with the result to be announced on December 18.