Global media is reporting that Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate Khairat Al-Shater is among a list of candidates disqualified by Egypt’s electoral commission. According to an AFP report:
(AFP) – 3 hours ago CAIRO — Egypt’s military ruler will hold talks with political leaders on Sunday after next month’s presidential election was thrown into further turmoil with the disqualification of key candidates. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi will meet the heads of political parties and groups to discuss major developments five weeks ahead of the first presidential election since a popular uprising ousted long-time leader Hosni Mubarak last year, state media reported. On Saturday, Egypt’s election commission said that 10 of the 23 registered presidential candidates had been barred from the race, including ex-spy chief Omar Suleiman, Muslim Brotherhood candidate Khairat El-Shater and popular Salafist politician Hazem Abu Ismail. Suleiman’s registration had infuriated the political forces who were at the forefront of last year’s revolt, with many believing that his candidacy was proof that promises of a transition to democracy were merely cosmetic. Suleiman, Mubarak’s intelligence chief for two decades, was briefly appointed Egypt’s vice-president but quit the post in February 2011 when Mubarak resigned following weeks of mass protests against his 30-year rule. Meanwhile secular groups were furious over Shater’s candidacy, accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of monopolising politics after dominating parliament and a panel tasked with drafting the constitution. The powerful Islamist group had repeatedly vowed not to present a member for the top job, but in a dramatic U-turn it put forward Shater, as well as party chairman Mohammed Mursi as a back-up candidate.
Read the rest here.
A post from the end of March reported on Al-Shater’s nomination which broke the promise of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood not to field a candidate for President.
For a profile of Mr. Al-Shater, go here.
For a recent lecture give by Mr. Al-Shater, go here.