Egypt’s Social Democratic Party Abstains From Backing Any Candidate In Presidential Elections

The Egyptian Social Democratic Party voted on Saturday against backing any particular candidate in the coming presidential elections and leave the decision up to each individual member.

The party was split between backing former army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, backing Nasserist figure Hamdeen Sabahi or not backing any particular candidate.

Member of the party’s supreme committee Karim Kenany told Al-Ahram’s Arabic news website that the majority of the party voted to abstain from backing a particular candidate so as to creating party divisions.

The Egyptian Socialist Democratic Party was formed after the January 2011 revolution which ousted Hosni Mubarak.

The Nasserist Karama Party, the Egyptian Popular Current, the Constitution Party and the Socialist Popular Alliance Party have announced their decision to back Sabahi, who is presenting himself as the revolution’s candidate.

Meanwhile, the liberal Wafd Party, the Conference Party, the Tagammu Party as well as others have announced their support for El-Sisi.

El-Sisi’s popularity soared after the ouster of Morsi last July with many expecting him to win the elections by a large margin. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces also announced their support to his presidential bid describing it as “a mandate and an obligation.”

The presidential elections are to take place on 26 and 27 May.

Source : Ahram online