Presidential hopeful and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq said Thursday evening he officially submitted his candidacy papers to the Presidential Elections Commission, including 63,000 signatures from citizens in different governorates.
Shafiq stressed that he also secured the support of 20 parliamentarians, which he did not use because he preferred to use the support of the people.
“My supporters did not accompany me to submit my papers, as the traffic in Egypt cannot handle such types of campaigns,” said Shafiq.
Shafiq's platform is based on restoring security and boosting the Egyptian economy through foreign investments. Shafiq says he was charged with developing the civil aviation sector to international standards in a short time, without imposing financial burdens over the state. Shafiq held the post of Civil Aviation Minister from 2002-2011, when he was appointed prime minister by Hosni Mubarak in response to the outbreak of the 25 January revolution.
In response to reports that he had bribed citizens to endorse his candidacy, Shafiq said, “The signatures I received from citizens in various governorates were a gift from my fans.”
Presidential hopeful Amr Moussa has criticized Shafiq’s candidacy, saying that it is unacceptable for Mubarak’s prime minister to run in the presidential election.
Shafiq responded: “Why? And Amr Moussa spent ten years as foreign minister, and another ten years at the Arab League under Mubarak?" He added that Mubarak was planning to extend Moussa's term as secretary general of the Arab League before the revolution began.
With regard to Khairat al-Shater, Shafiq said every citizen has the right to nominate himself, though the Muslim Brotherhood breaking its promise not to field a candidate would affect their chances in the presidential race.
Shafiq also addressed the current impasse over the formation of the Constituent Assembly that is tasked with drafting the new constitution. He said the next president should nominate members of the assembly then put the nominations to a public referendum.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
