Egypt's High Election Committee (HEC) announced on Wednesday the acceptance of 5420 individual candidates and nine winner-takes-all party/coalition lists for the upcoming parliamentary elections due to take place in October and November, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.
There will be 596 seats in parliament, with 448 of them (75%) elected through the individual candidacy system, 120 (20%) through winner-takes-all party/coalition lists, and 28 (5%) selected by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
The committee did not announce the names of the individual candidates nor the party/coalition lists.
Meanwhile the HEC said in a press conference that six party/coalition lists were rejected. They did not give a reason.
The committee also turned down 535 independent candidates.
HEC's spokesperson Omar Marwan disclosed on Tuesday night that a total of 5,941 individuals had applied to run. He also said 14 electoral coalitions had fielded candidates aiming to run on the lists.
The first round of the long-delayed parliamentary elections will be held between 17 and 28 October across 14 governorates: Giza, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assuit, Sohag, Qena, Luxor, Aswan, New Valley, Red Sea, Beheira, Alexandria and Marsaw Matruh.
Campaigning for this first stage is scheduled for between 4 and 15 October.
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