The head of Egypt s State Information Service (SIS) Diaa Rashwan has dismissed rumours that he was handpicked by the state to run for head of the country s Journalists Syndicate.
Rashwan, who headed the syndicate from 2013 to 2015, has said that he will be running for the post of syndicate head in the upcoming elections, set to be held in March.
In an interview with MBC Masr TV channel on Monday, Rashwan dismissed what he said is some people s belief that he was chosen by the state to run because he is head of the SIS and that he strongly opposed the rule of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group.
Rashwan also said that his election campaign s slogan, Reunion, refers to both journalists and all other segments of society.
The current head of the syndicate and the CEO of Al-Ahram Foundation Abdel-Mohsen Salama said earlier this week that he will not be running for re-election as syndicate head.
Eleven candidates have nominated themselves for the position of candidate head and 52 have nominated themselves for syndicate council membership. The window for nominations closed on 14 February.
One of the oldest unions in the country, Egypt s Journalists Syndicate was founded in 1941.
