Former parliamentarian reveals intention to run for presidency

Chairperson of Egypt’s Reform and Development Party Mohamed Anwar Al Sadat revealed his intention to run for the coming presidential elections scheduled to be held in 2018, saying that he will participate in the coming elections if the government provided guarantees to ensure integrity. He said that a large number of politicians and publich figures demanded him to take the step.
He added, in a statement to “Arabs Today”, the calls he received to run for presidency encouraged him to do so, pointing out that the competition in the presidential election is very difficult in light of expectations that President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi will run for a second term. He stressed that he refuses to be a fake candidate but serious competitor who seeks to achieve a large number of votes during the elections.
He added that there are a number of experts and specialists who are currently working to prepare his electoral program if he took the final decision to run for the presidential elections. He said the program is based on separation of powers and defining their respective functions, supporting low-income people and improving the economic situation of the country.
He confirmed that President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is patriotic and sincere, but that there are mistakes in which the parties are not allowed to express their opinion.
Regarding the decision to exclude him from the parliament, Sadat said that the number of people who were keen to congratulate him for leaving the parliament was more than those people who were keen to congratulate for winning the latest parliamentary elections.
He blamed the parliament for ignoring the economic conditions of Egyptian citizens during the current critical period witnessed in the country, saying that they performed a major role to pass the laws which affected the daily life of Egyptian people.
He stressed that the parliament commit a big mistake when it approved the Treaty of Maritime Demarcation concluded between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, saying that such an agreement will be a shame in Egypt’s parliamentary history.