In a statement on Sunday, the Egyptian Interior Ministry announced that its role in the upcoming parliamentary elections would be limited to securing the polling stations from the outside, without interfering in the voting process, unless summoned by a member of the judiciary overseeing the elections. The elections are to be held in nine governorates on Monday and Tuesday
“The Interior Ministry commits to full neutrality during the elections, and remains impartial vis-à-vis all political forces and parties in order to achieve the aspirations of the Egyptian people,” the statement said.
The Egyptian police played a crucial role in the 2010 elections under the former ruling National Democratic Party, when human rights organizations said the police prevented supporters of opposition candidates from entering polling stations to cast their votes.
Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, president of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, on Sunday said: “The army is a full partner with the police in securing the elections.”
The upcoming parliamentary elections are the first step towards transferring power to a civilian rule, now promised to take place in July, according to the ruling military council's timetable.
There are fears of violent acts during the elections, especially with apparent weakness of the police in controlling lawlessness in the streets.
The police and the army had failed in dealing with peaceful demonstrators in Tahrir Square, where the use of live bullets and tear gas canisters killed 42 demonstrators over the course of last week.
