The Egyptian Federation of Trade Unions (EFTU) has announced its decision to accept candidacy applications from independents wishing to vie for parliamentary seats earmarked for laborers in upcoming elections slated for November.
Opposition parties had pressured the EFTU to provide an opportunity to would-be candidates who did not wish to run in elections under the ruling National Democratic Party or opposition parties, prompting the federation to begin accepting candidacy applications ahead of the official starting date.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, EFTU sources said that the federation had thereby confirmed its impartiality vis-a-vis the elections by allowing those who were not members of its affiliated unions to contest the races.
The EFTU, which will support some 3500 candidates in the upcoming elections, does not renew candidacy permits in cases in which permits are either lost or damaged so as to avoid the possibility of forged election entries.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
