By Lora El-Narsh

Applications for candidacy in the upcoming parliamentary elections have concluded in all electoral constituencies on Saturday, excluding the Qena and Qoss electoral districts, which will continue to receive submissions until Tuesday.

According to the Supreme Electoral Committee (SEC), candidates who have applied for elections must submit their new medical reports from 13 to 15 September.

The first phase of Egypt’s parliamentary elections is scheduled to take place on 17-18 October for Egyptians abroad, and 18-19 October for voters inside Egypt. The second phase will take place on 21-22 November for Egyptians abroad and 22-23 November for voters inside Egypt, according to the SEC announcement in late August.

Meanwhile, the Civil Democratic Union ‘Sahwet Misr’ withdrew from parliamentary elections due to the “distortions of procedures required by the committee organising the elections”.

“Forcing candidates to retake medical tests on their own expenses destroys the two constitutional principles of equality and equal opportunities,” a Sahwet Misr statement read.

After the withdrawal of Sahwet Misr from parliamentary elections, reactions varied. Politician and activist Shadi El-Ghazali Harb praised the move.

Meanwhile, Secretary General of the Egyptian Democratic Party, Ahmed Fawzy, said: “Whatever your assessment of Sahwet Misr’s list and the way it is governed or its speeches, or even if you are against voting in the upcoming elections, Sahwet Misr’s withdrawal stands for two reasons. First, the weakness of the committee supervising the elections; second, the financial inability to compete, which raises doubts of unfair elections.”

Sahwet Misr was formed by Abdel Galil Mostafa, who was also a prominent opposition figure leading up to the 25 January Revolution that ousted former president Hosni Mubarak.

The list of parties includes the Democratic Current Alliance, the Constitution Party, Al-Karama Party, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party, Misr El-Horreya, El-Adl, the Popular Current, the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, the National Bloc, and the 25/30 Alliance.