Former MP Mohamed Anwar Al Sadat is considering joining the 2018 presidential race, according to Al Masry Al Youm. Sadat has been meeting with MPs to collect the 20 signatures needed to file his nomination papers and has already submitted his letter of intent to House Speaker Ali Abdel Aal. Sadat said he would announce his final decision on Monday. Human rights lawyer Khaled Ali will also announce whether he will officially apply to run for president on Monday. While that went on, some 516 other MPs “raced” to the House to sign a form supporting President Abdel Fattah El Sisi’s re-election, including Abdel Aal himself, Al Shorouk reports. El Sisi has yet to formally declare his intention to run. This comes days after the National Elections Commission announced the detailed timeline for the 2018 elections, which will see Egyptians head to the polls to elect a president on 26-28 March, with runoffs set to take place between 24-26 April, and results scheduled for a 1 May announcement.

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