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Snapshot Profiles of Egypt's Presidential Candidates


There are 13 candidates running for president in Egypt. The first round of voting is set for May 23-24. If none of the candidates wins more than 50 per cent of votes, a run-off will be held in June.

These four men are considered by many analysts to be the front-runners:


Amr Moussa, born 1936

  • Independent
  • Secretary-General of the Arab League from 2001 to 2011
  • Publicly supported pro-democracy protesters
  • Foreign Minister under Hosni Mubarak from 1991 to 2001
  • Earned a law degree at Cairo University

Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh, born 1951

  • Independent
  • Publicly supported pro-democracy protesters, helped set up field hospitals for demonstrators
  • Expelled from Muslim Brotherhood when he announced his bid for the presidency
  • Imprisoned from 1996 to 2001
  • Arrested in 1981 crackdown on Islamists and dissidents
  • Earned a medical degree at Cairo University

Mohamed Mursi, born 1951
  • Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party
  • Jailed during the pro-democracy protests
  • Was also detained in 2006
  • High ranking member of Muslim Brotherhood and spokesman for the group
  • Earned engineering degree from Cairo University and doctorate in the U.S.
Ahmed Shafiq, born 1941
  • Independent
  • Appointed as prime minister by Hosni Mubarak just before he lost power
  • Minister of aviation from 2002 to 2011
  • Commander of the Air Force from 1996 to 2002
  • Graduated from Egyptian Air Force Academy, later earned doctorate.
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