Egypt certifies 77 NGOs to monitor Parliamentary Elections

Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity has given 77 NGOs certification to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections, state news agency MENA reported Tuesday.

Permits issued by the Supreme Elections Committee are expected to be given to the accepted organisations between 5 and 14 February.

The registration period for national and international civil society organisations to monitor the elections began on 12 January and finished on Tuesday.

Civil society organisations as well as missions from several international entities such as the European Union monitored Egypt’s presidential elections last year.

The US-based Carter Center, which also monitored the presidential elections, has said it will not take part in the upcoming polls, citing a “deeply polarised” atmosphere in Egypt.

The 2015 elections will take place in two stages in March and April.

An estimated 54 million Egyptians are registered as eligible voters in the coming poll.

Source: Ahram Online