Muslim Brotherhood leads in the preliminary vote counts in Egypt

Initial vote counts of the first ever three-phase parliamentary elections in Egypt put Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, a mainstream Islamist group, in the forefront of power. Running a close second is another Islamic party, the Al Noor Salafi Muslim party.

It is reported that the Freedom and Justice Party of Muslim Brotherhood has chalked up almost 40 percent of vote in the Egypt elections. But it is the ultraconservative Al Noor Salafi Muslim party or Salafis that has emerged as the dark horse. Salafis have already notched up an estimated two-thirds of the vote in the early results of the Egypt elections. Together with the 40 percent vote claimed by the Muslim Brotherhood, the combined total is a whopping 65 percent - enough to clinch a majority in the parliament.

Thursday's result could pose a major setback for Egypt’s liberal parties and youth activists who are already plagued by lack of organization and internal rivalry. Interestingly, the poor showing of liberals is from the provinces which are counted among the most liberals and accounts for one-third of the total votes. It is a matter of concern for those who have been demanding all along for a modern, democratic government that can meet the aspirations of its people, mostly its youths.

The elections on Monday and Tuesday were the first of the three-phase elections for the selection of members of the lower house. The results of which are expected to be announced on Thursday night. It is not before January that the final phase of the three phase elections are going to be over. Only after this the much awaited drafting of a new constitution would take place in Egypt. The upper house parliamentary elections are scheduled to start from Jan and run until March.