Cairo
Egypt’s parliament this week changed the constitution to allow multiple candidates to run in presidential elections. But opposition parties said the restrictions on running were so stringent that the change was merely cosmetic. Under the old system, parliament nominated a single presidential candidate, who was confirmed in an up-or-down vote in a national referendum. Now, opposition parties may put forward alternative candidates, but each candidate must have the backing of at least 65 deputies in the 454-member assembly. Since all 15 opposition parties combined control just 42 seats, any opposition candidate would need support from President Hosni Mubarak’s ruling National Democratic Party—a highly unlikely prospect.
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