Two of the party’s senior officials – the party's leader Abdel-Sanad Yamama and member of the Supreme Council Fouad Badrawi – have submitted bids for the party’s nomination.

Badrawi, a former MP and relative of the party's founder and late politician Fouad Serageddin, announced his bid last week, only a few days after Yamama.

"In Al-Wafd's Higher Council meeting expected tomorrow, members shall vote in a secret ballot to decide who will be the party's official presidential candidate," said Badrawi, adding that "if the 50-member Higher Council fails to reach a decision, the Wafd's general assembly would be required to meet to give the final say."

"My decision to submit a bid to win Al-Wafd's presidential candidate came only upon the request of the majority of the members of the party's Higher Council and also after the party's Higher Council approved last week that the party would contest Egypt's upcoming presidential election," Badrawi said in a media statement on Saturday.

Badrawi revealed he sent a letter to Yamama three days ago, informing him of his decision to run and calling on the Higher Council to make its selection.

Divisions not ‘sweeping’
 

He also stated that "the fact that two hopefuls have submitted bids to win the Wafd's official nomination for the presidential election does not mean that differences and divisions are sweeping the party."

"Yes there are divisions among the Wafd's Higher Council's members over who should be the party's official presidential candidate but once the Higher Council reaches a decision in a secret, democratic and transparent ballot, all differences and divisions will disappear."

Badrawi said it is too early to announce his presidential election platform.

"But generally speaking, it will be the Wafd party's platform which is based on liberal political and economic reforms," he said.

Yamama announced last week that he was able to get the backing of 90 percent of the party's 50-member Higher Council.

According to Article 142 of Egypt constitution, "candidates must receive the recommendation of at least 20 elected members of the House of Representatives, or endorsements from at least 25,000 citizens who have the right to vote, in at least 15 governorates, with a minimum of 1,000 endorsements from each governorate."

The Wafd party has 39 elected deputies in the House of Representatives, and 10 in the Senate.

Republican People’s Party
 

Meanwhile, Egypt's Republican People’s Party announced on Thursday that it too would field a candidate.

The party's Secretary-General and MP Mohamed Salah Abu Himila announced that they would meet on 5 July to make the final decision.

"The vote comes after many members of the Supreme Council recommended that the party should field a presidential candidate who can get the support of citizens for its political and economic programmes."

"Besides, the party has 67 elected deputies in the House of Representatives and 17 elected members in the Senate, thus enabling its candidate to meet the condition stipulated by Article 142," said Abu Himila.

The Republican People’s Party, founded in September 2012 and currently led by Senator Hazem Omar, is a liberal-oriented party.

"We are liberal in the sense of supporting political reforms, but we are leftist in the sense of taking all measures necessary to protect vulnerable classes from economic liberalization and privatization policies," said Abu Himila.