In the framework of Maat Foundation for Peace, Development and Human Rights activities ,that are related to the Egyptian presidential elections, which started its first stage on March 31st, 2014, and its next stage will take place on the 25th and 26th of May, launched "Presidential Elections Observatory- Egypt 2014".
The Observatory will follow-up, monitor and document all activities associated with the electoral process on both field and media sections. It will start operating on April 26th, 2014 and till the announcement of the election results. This is through a systematic, daily and accurate monitoring to media speeches related to the electoral process, whether issued by visual media or by news sites or social media pages; also through monitoring of events and incidents, happening on the ground in different provinces, especially those related to the electoral propaganda, the behavior of the state apparatus and practices of violence, which may affect the course of the electoral process.
Over two days, Wednesday and Thursday the 23rd and 24th of April, Maat for peace, development and human rights held a training workshop for media observers and field reporters, to enable them of tools and mechanisms, that will help them to have neutral, objective, and accurate monitoring and documentation.
In a related context, Maat Foundation issued its first report on the proceedings of the electoral process, which covered the stage of opening the door for nomination and procedures governing them, which lasted from March 31, 2014 until April 20, 2014.
The report pointed out the differences in the legal and political views related to fortifying the decisions of the Presidential Election Commission, and the legal framework governing the management of the electoral process and the stage of opening the door for nomination. The report have some observations regarding the period specified by the Commission, estimated by 21 days, and considered to be relatively short to collect 25 000 documented support model for presidency candidates. Also it pointed out the relative delay in the issuance of the presidential election law, and the organizational laws to the process from the behalf of the Presidential Elections Committee. The report praised the employment of modern technology in this process, through the provisions of the electronic reader to the data of the National ID.
The report emphasized that the process went smoothly and did not witness any violations according to the international standards of free and fair elections. It also did not witness what would prevent the nomination of applicants from meeting the legal requirements of applying for candidacy and get the required numbers of support models.
The report pointed to the announcements from the behalf of some campaigns of presidential candidates regarding being harassed during the process of collecting support models. It also pointed to the increasing frequency of violence in conjunction with the electoral process and the demonstrations "that give up its peaceful nature sometimes".
To see the full report
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