Presidential hopefuls demand presidential elections be held in February

Seven presidential hopefuls have called on the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) to hold the upcoming presidential elections in February 2012, threatening the withdrawal of confidence from the SCAf if the elections are not held on time.

The seven would-be candidates met late on Tuesday to discuss recent political developments and the decisions made by Egypt's transitional rulers.
Informed sources told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the participants discussed drafting a paper on the interim period that they would submit to the SCAF.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said a delegation of candidates may meet with the military council.

Presidential hopefuls Mohamed ElBaradei, Amr Moussa, Mohamed Selim al-Awa, Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, Hamdeen Sabbahi and Hazem Abu Ismail took part in the meeting, in addition to Hesham el-Bastawisi, who participated via telephone from abroad.

The meeting tackled issues including laws on parliamentary elections and electoral constituencies, as well as recent incidents at the Israeli Embassy, the amendment of the Emergency Law and the government's campaign against private satellite television channels.

A statement from Abouel Fotouh’s campaign team emphasized the necessity of facing challenges and exchanging views during Egypt's transitional period. Sabbahi’s campaign team, meanwhile, said the meeting was a response to the demands of young people.

Several presidential hopefuls, party representatives and the Union of Revolutionary Youth attended an earlier meeting on Tuesday at the Wasat Party headquarters, after which they announced a signature-gathering campaign against the electoral constituencies’ law. Critics say the law will favor Islamist groups, which have the resources to campaign over wider areas, by enlarging election districts.

The presidential hopefuls also threatened to take to the streets in mass protests if the elections are not held in February, and that they would independently announce that they would be holding the presidential elections in February.

They are also expected to delegate one from among them, most likely ElBaradei, to meet today with Field Marshal Hussein al-Tantawy to present their demands.

The meeting on Tuesday took place from 9am to 12pm at a well-known hotel in Downtown Cairo.