Backgrounder: Egyptian parliamentary election to start on Nov. 9

Egypt announced on Friday that the parliamentary election will kick off on Nov. 9 and end one month later.

Under a decree issued by President Hosni Mubarak on Oct. 10, the nationwide election will progress in three stages from Nov. 9.

The election will initially be mounted in Cairo, Giza Manufia, Beni Suef, Minya, Asyut, Matrouh and the New Valley, and the second stage on Nov. 14 will cover Alexandria, Beheira, Ismailia, Port Said, Suez, Qaliobiya, Gharbiya, Fayoum and Qena, it will end at the third stage on Dec. 7 in Dakahliya, Sharqiya, Kafr El Sheikh, Damietta, Sohag, Aswan, the Red Sea, North Sinai and South Sinai.

According to the decree, re-run votes between two candidates who received the most votes in the first round will take place six days after the initial vote when no candidate receives the required 50 percent plus one vote to win in the first round.

It also said the newly-elected parliament should convene for the first time after the re-run of the third stage vote on Dec. 13.

Every five years, the election will choose 444 members for the People's Assembly by an absolute majority vote in 222 two-member constituencies. The president himself appoints the remaining 10 seats.

The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), led by President Hosni Mubarak, has nominated 444 candidates for the coming election, around one third of its existing parliament members have been replaced by fresh blood.

In the last vote in 2000, the biggest opposition bloc in the parliament the Muslim Brotherhood won 17 seats against the NDP's 388 seats by making their members run as independents for it is banned by the government.

Enjoying more space from the authorities, the group expects to at least treble its number of seats this time.

Prime Minister Ahmed Nazef has pledged a fair and transparent parliamentary election, saying cabinet ministers running in the election will separate their roles as government officials and election candidates.

Mubarak also welcomed Egypt's right groups to oversee the election.

The government's role in the election will focus on security and media, which will play a role in guaranteeing transparency and impartiality.

Source: Xinhua