The presidency responded to the statements made by the the Chairman of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, Mohamed Abul Ghar, on Wednesday.
The presidency statement denied the interference of the state with the formation of electoral lists, adding that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi had stressed during a meeting with political leaders, including Abul Ghar, that he would take a neutral position towards all political parties. The statement pointed out that Abul Ghar made press statements following the meeting, confirming that Sisi would not back a certain list during the upcoming elections.
"The state is still standing and will continue to stand at the same distance from everyone. It has not and will not support any list or any person," read the statement.
Abul Ghar had accused the state authorities of interfering with the "For the Love of Egypt" electoral list.
He mentioned that President Sisi issued many unconstitutional laws, establishing a police state, calling for these laws to be reviewed.
Abul Ghar said Sisi does not want the upcoming parliamentary elections to be held in the coming months and that he seeks a fragile parliament. According to the presidency statement, Abul Ghar's words "contradict reality." Abul Ghar blamed the flawed electoral law on what he called “the deep state,” suggesting that security authorities were interfering with the formation of the electoral system, as well as in the electoral lists, most notably the "For the Love of Egypt" list, which he said was created to represent the state in the elections.
The president instructed the Cabinet to swiftly amend the constituencies law, which was annulled by the Supreme Constitutional Court, read the presidency's statement, which also stressed the president's will to fulfill the road map and to conduct the parliamentary elections as soon as possible.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
