A file photo for the Socialist Popular alliance (Photo: Mai Shaheen)
Egyptians must support the fight against terrorism by supporting democratic principles and participating in the coming parliamentary elections, Socialist Popular Alliance Party media secretary and parliamentary candidate Motaz El-Shennawy told Al-Ahram's Arabic news website.
El-Shennawy, one of six SPAP candidates who are running for individual seats in the coming polls, said that achieving social justice is a second way to fight terrorism.
"The second way is drying up the the sources of terrorism like poverty, injustice and oppression, because democracy and social justice are the shield and sword of terrorism's war," El-Shennawy said.
The party was formerly part of the electoral list Sahwet Misr (Egypt's Awakening), contributing fifteen candidates, but the list withdrew from the electoral process on 11 September following a court decision that candidates who conducted prescribed medical check-ups in February must to undertake them again.
"Obliging candidates to retake medical tests at their own expenses kills the two constitutional principles of equality and equal opportunities," the Sahwet Misr statement said.
Following the withdrawal of the list, the Socialist Popular Alliance Party will not compete for the party list seats. In addition to the six SPAP candidates competing for individual seats, five other party members are running for the individual seats as independents, the party's vice president Zohdy El-Shamy said at a press conference Friday.
El-Shamy is competing for a seat in Damanhour in Beheira, while El-Shennawy is standing in Alexandria.
Elections during the first phase are due to take place for Egyptians abroad Saturday and Sunday, while in Egypt, voters will go to the polls on Sunday and Monday.
One hundred and twenty seats have been allocated to party list candidates, while individual candidates are competing for 448 seats.
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