Egyptian controversial lawyer Mansour to run for president

Egypt National Party chooses to endorse the bid of Mortada Mansour to become Egypt’s president. Controversial lawyer Mortada Mansour has submitted his candidacy-registration papers to the Higher Presidential Election Commission (HPEC) on Wednesday as he bids to become Egypt’s first president following the 2011 January revolution. The Egypt National Party has decided to nominate Mansour for the presidential seat, allowing him to officially become a candidate without needing to resort to two more difficult options. To be nominated, candidates must enjoy the support of 30 elected MPs; collect the signatures of 30,000 Egyptian citizens from at least 15 Egyptian governorates in support of their candidacy; or secure the backing of a political party that holds at least one seat in parliament. “The presidential campaign will begin on the first of April,” Mansour’s son Ahmed was quoted as saying by state-run news agency MENA. Mansour, a former chairman of Cairo-based club Zamalek, is known for his outspoken remarks that landed him in numerous troubles during the past few years. He was heavily criticized by pro-democracy activists for launching a scathing attack on revolutionaries in the wake of the 18-day uprising that brought to end Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year autocratic rule. He is set to compete with the likes of former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, Salafist preacher Hazem Salah Abu Ismail, former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, judge Hisham El-Bastawisi and Islamist candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh, all of whom are expected to fulfil the requirements to contest the elections. From: Ahram online