From right to left: Incumbent president Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi; Hazem Omar, head of the People's Republican Party, Abdel-Sanad Yamama, head of Egypt's oldest liberal party, the Wafd; and Farid Zahran, head of the opposition Social Democratic Party.
The step marks the commencement of the nearly month-long period of electoral campaigns.
Three political party leaders in addition to incumbent President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi had already presented candidacy papers to the NEA.
El-Sisi, who is seeking a third term in office, chose the star as his electoral symbol, while Farid Zahran, the candidate of the opposition Social Democratic Party, chose the sun.
Additionally, Abdel-Sanad Yamama, the candidate of the Wafd party, chose the palm, and Hazem Omar, the candidate of the People's Republican Party, chose the ladder, the ENA said in a statement on Wednesday.
As for the presidential campaigns, the NEA allowed each candidate to open a bank account -- in either the National Bank of Egypt or Banque Misr -- for campaigning expenses.
The NEA will be monitoring the deposits made into each candidate’s bank account and the donations received for their respective campaigns, the election authority said, noting that the expenditure shall not exceed EGP 20 million, in addition to EGP 5 million in case of runoffs.
Under the election law, each candidate is allowed to receive cash or in-kind donations only from Egyptian individuals, provided that the donation does not exceed 2 percent of the maximum expenditure limit for the campaign, explained the NEA.
Voting in Egypt will take place from 10 to 12 December.
Egyptians abroad will cast their votes on 1-3 December.
The final result will be announced on 18 December if no run-off is required.
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