Registration for candidates for Egypt's historic presidential race - the first after thirty years of autocratic rule by the Mubarak regime - has opened today.
Hopefuls for the position, which should usher Egypt into a democracy, have until 8 April to apply. The elections are scheduled for 23 and 24 May. The constitutional declaration approved by the March referendum of last year and the elections law set the criterion for acceptance in the race.
Accordingly, those who wish to run with the post, but have dual nationality or are married to a foreigner will not be eligible. Also, the candidate cannot be under the age of forty.
The elections law dictates that the candidate cannot spend more than ten million Egyptian pounds ($1.6 million) on the campaign and can spend a maximum of two million for the reruns. Candidates are also not allowed to receive their funds from their political parties, if they are members of any. Only individual donations are allowed, which should not exceed LE200,000 (roughly $33,900) and no more than 40,000 (roughly $6,800) for the reruns.
All candidates should have a separate bank account dedicated to his campaign, which they should disclose to the Supreme Electoral Committee supervising the presidential elections.
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