Egypt court bars Mubarak figures from upcoming polls

CAIRO 

An Egyptian court on Tuesday barred former members of ousted president Hosni Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP) from contesting presidential and parliamentary polls, judicial sources have said.

The verdict, which remains subject to appeal, forbids former members of the NDP – dissolved in the wake of Mubarak's 2011 ouster – from running in either May 26-27 presidential elections or parliamentary polls expected sometime later this year.

The NDP, which had been headed by Mubarak, was officially dissolved by court order on April 16, 2011.

Following Egypt's January 25 uprising in 2011, which ended Mubarak's 30-year rule, the party was given a new name by a group of politicians who had hoped to reanimate it.

The 2011 court ruling, however, ended the party's existence on Egypt's political stage.

"Since its establishment in 1978, the party has played a leading role appointing corrupt governments and approving unconstitutional laws," the court declared when explaining Tuesday's verdict.

Egypt plans to hold parliamentary polls sometime before the end of the year, in line with a transitional roadmap imposed by the army following last July's ouster of elected president Mohamed Morsi.

Under the terms of the roadmap, the country will also hold presidential elections on May 26-27.

By Sayed Fathi

englishnews@aa.com.tr