CAIRO, March 10 (UPI) -- Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a former member of the influential Muslim Brotherhood group, is likely to become Egypt's next president, analysts said.
The prediction comes as Egypt marks the official beginning of the presidential campaign in which registration will take place through April 8. The election is set for May 23-24 and the new president is be announced June 21, the elections commission said.
Along with Aboul Fotouh, former Arab League chief Amr Moussa is viewed as a front-runner, while liberal Hamdeen Sabahi and ultra-conservative Salafist Hazem Saleh Abu Ismail also have drawn strong support, bikyamasr.com said.
Since former President Hosni Mubarak's overthrow in February 2011, Egypt has been ruled by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has said it will turn over power to the elected president in July.
The Muslim Brotherhood, which won majorities in the lower and upper houses of Egypt's Parliament through the group's Freedom and Justice Party, has no candidate in the presidential election. Bikyamasr.com said the Muslim Brotherhood is reluctant to endorse a candidate.
Local media have not mentioned female candidate Bothaina Kamel, a sign many women's activists say shows Egypt is not ready for female presidential candidates, bikyamasr.com said.
Kamel publicly announced her candidacy and has been campaigning nearly constantly.
