Egypt’s presidential hopefuls want early vote despite the army’s assurances

Six Egyptian presidential candidates called on the ruling military on Wednesday to hand over power to an elected president by the end of April after a shortened parliamentary poll timetable.

Islamist candidate Salim al-Awa read out a statement signed by the candidates or their representatives calling for a presidential election on April 1 and for the military to hand “power to the elected president on April 20.”

Two of the candidates, former Arab League chief Amr Mussa and former judge Hisham Bastawisi, delegated representatives to the press conference announcing their demands.

Liberal candidate Mohammed ElBaradei did not attend or sign the statement, which carried the names of three Islamist candidates − Abdel Monseim Abol Fotuh, Awa and Hazem Abu Ismail − and left-winger Hamdeen Sabahi.

The statement was also signed by Bastawisi and Mussa, who the statement said had reservations on presidential candidates setting dates for the parliamentary election.

The statement also called for shortening the consecutive parliamentary and senate elections, which the military has said would begin on November 28 and end with the last round of senate elections on March 11.

Awa recommended instead that the last round of elections be held on January 30.

Under the current timetable, parliamentary candidates must submit their nominations between October 12 and 18.

Egypt’s generals have not set a date but, under a timetable that involves a parliamentary vote followed by drawing up a new constitution, analysts said the presidential race may not happen until the end of 2012 or early 2013.

In Egypt a committee will draft a new constitution to replace Mubarak’s after the legislative polls and then a presidential election held. The committee has up to six months to finish its work, meaning the presidential election might not be held until the end of August.

Many Egyptians suspect that the military council, which took control after Hosni Mubarak was driven from office, may want to hold on to power from behind the scenes even after handing over day-to-day affairs to the government.

The military denies any such intentions. Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi on Wednesday also dismissed talk that the military might propose a candidate for the presidency.

“Don’t let this drag on, so that we don’t lose all hope,” Hazim Salah Abou Ismail, one of the six hopefuls, told a news conference, where representatives of the group announced their demands.

He said a swift presidential vote was important because the military council would still hold presidential powers, such as forming a government, even after the parliamentary vote.

Rumors

The official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported that Tantawi “denied the existence of a candidate for the military establishment in the future presidential election.” He was responding to speculation about such a plan.

Responding to a question about a possible military nominee, MENA quoted Tantawi as saying: “We should not waste time discussing rumors.”

Egyptian media have speculated about several names that might have military backing, including Omar Suleiman, former intelligence chief and briefly Mubarak’s vice president.

Tantawi called on Egyptians to vote in the upcoming elections, adding the
parliamentary vote had been delayed at the request of political forces to give them more time to organize, according to MENA.

Dozens of new parties have been set up after politics opened up with the toppling of Hosni Mubarak, who kept a tight grip on politics. A senior figure in Mubarak's ruling party controlled the committee that approved new parties.

Egypt’s first and only multi-candidate presidential election was held in 2005. Mubarak, to no one’s surprise, won a crushing victory in a vote marred by abuses. Election rules made it all but impossible for a serious challenge to Mubarak.

Mubarak’s former allies, many of them local notables who still enjoy clout in their areas, have been spurned by most parties, leaving them with few options to get re-elected to parliament apart from running as independents.