Egypt's presidential frontrunners

Author: Nehal El-Sherif

   Cairo (dpa) - In 2005, Egypt saw the first allegedly contested presidential election in its history, in which Hosny Mubarak won his fifth consecutive term in office. The opposition blasted the poll as farcical and Mubarak's opponents were imprisoned soon after, in what they described as a threat to all potential opponents.

   Six years later, Mubarak was ousted in a popular uprising, and voters are to elect his successor on May 23-24 in what is seen as Egypt's first free elections.

   The six frontrunners in the polls are:

   Amr Moussa: The former head of the Arab League is running as an independent. At 75, Moussa is the oldest candidate. Last year, he was quick to support the uprising, visiting protesters in Tahrir square and announcing his bid shortly after Mubarak left. Moussa's supporters praise his diplomatic experience and remember his outspoken anti-Israeli stance during his term as foreign minister during 1991-2001. However, opponents reject him for his 10 years in the Mubarak administration.

   Abdul-Moneim Abul-Fotouh: A former senior member of the Muslim Brotherhood, Abul-Fotouh was expelled last year when he announced his bid after Mubarak stepped down. He is running as an independent, and is supported by groups including Christians, Islamists and liberals, who all have praised his moderate views. The 60-year-old physician also gained support after he rejected a safe exit for members of the ruling military council. However, his opponents still doubt that he is genuinely a moderate Islamist.

   Ahmed Shafiq: He is Mubarak's last prime minister, appointed during the 18-day popular uprising last year. Shafiq, 70, is running as an independent. He was the minister of civil aviation for around nine years, where he was commended for improvements in the national carrier and the airport. Shafiq was known for his iron-clad rule in the ministry, a trait applauded by his supporters. However, many reject his candidacy, saying they will not accept a member of the military or a former Mubarak aide for Egypt's top office.

   Mohammed Morsi: Morsi, 60, is the head of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which was formed last year after a decades-long ban on the group was lifted. He is seen as a conservative voice within the brotherhood. The FJP fielded Morsi as a backup to their original candidate Khairat al-Shater, who was disqualified from the race for legal reasons. The two men are close associates in the brotherhood, though al-Shater is considered more influential. Although most polls shows that Morsi lags behind, and many condemn the FJP's performance in parliament, the brotherhood remains the biggest grass-roots group in Egypt and has many loyalists.

   Hamdeen Sabahy: The 57-year-old politician, and founder of Al-Karama Party, began his career as a journalist. For decades, he was a critic of Mubarak and late president Anwar Sadat, and was imprisoned many times. Sabahi has a leftist approach similar to that of late president Gamal Abul-Nasser, which many voters see as a disadvantage at a time of a slowing economy. However, his supporters applaud his campaign, which advocates democracy and equal distribution of wealth, and his criticism of the military council. For many, he represents the middle ground between Islamist candidates and those affiliated to the Mubarak regime.

   Khaled Ali: The lawyer and social rights activist is the youngest candidate. He announced his bid as an independent in February, a day after he turned 40 - the minimum age requirement for presidential candidates. Ali played a prominent role over the past decade in defending workers' rights, winning several cases against the government including the 2010 landmark ruling for a minimum public sector wage. He is a vocal critic of the ruling military council. His programme focuses on achieving social justice and rebuilding the relationship between public and private institutions.