On Saturday, High Elections Commission Secretary General Abdel Aziz Salman rejected the announcement by Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's campaign that it is allegedly distributing thousands of energy-saving lamps to citizens.
Salman, who considered this an electoral violation, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the law forbids distributing electoral gifts or bribes to urge citizens to vote for a specific candidate.
"Once the commission makes sure that Sisi’s campaign distributed the lamps, an urgent meeting will be held to take the suitable reaction," he added.
Judicial sources from the commission said that Article 52 of the presidential elections law stipulates an imprisonment of no less than one year or a fine between LE1,000-LE5,000 or both penalties for anyone who gives, offers or promises someone a benefit in order to persuade him to cast his ballot for a specific candidate.
In a recent TV interview, Sisi advised Egyptians to use energy-saving lamps in order to reduce electricity loads in the summer, since power stations are suffering from fuel shortages.
The commission had earlier instructed Hamdeen Sabbahi to stick to the rules after he held a press conference before the official date of electoral campaigning.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
