Day second Presidential poll begins in Egypt

The Presidential poll in Egypt enters its second day as the country gears up to choose their first ever democratically elected President. Voting is expected to start at 8 AM (local time). For ordinary Egyptians, the two days of voting is a life-changing moment as they get to choose their own civilian President (through voting) for the first time in the country’s history. The current military council has assured of a fair election and a civilian government.

In the two days of first and free presidential election, fifty million eligible voters would decide their favorite candidate out of 12. Running among the top are Md. Mursi (Muslim Brotherhood-led Freedom and Justice Party), Ahmad Shafiq (briefly held the post of Prime Minister during Mubarak regime in Feb 2011), Amr Moussa (Arab League) and Abdul Moneim Aboul Fotouh (independent Islamist).

Preliminary results are expected to come in on Sunday. In case President is not selected, a run-off vote is going to be held on 16 and 17 June.

The last 15 months of post-Hosni Mubarak era has been marked by violent protests and power struggle. This has cast a major blow to FDI (foreign direct investment). Tourism, one of the major sources of income, has also reduced to one-third. Egypt’s President-to-be has a major challenge ahead to live up to people's expectations.

Egyptian Parliament begins its first session amidst cheer and skepticism

Almost a year has passed post Hosni Mubarak’s ouster, as Egypt’s military government is reported to bequeath its legislative power to the People’s Assembly (lower house of parliament). With this begins the first working session of Egyptian Parliament backed up by people’s mandate. The day is just two days prior to the historic January 25th, when Egypt saw its first uprising against the ruling establishment last year.

It is also a great moment for Muslim Brotherhood. Not only they have gained democratic legitimacy but have also emerged as the largest parliamentary group with 235 seats out of the 498 contested seats in the People’s assembly. There are also 10 more seats that are to be nominated by the Supreme Council of the Armed forces (SCAF).

This is undoubtedly a historic moment for Egypt. Men were seen breaking into impromptu dance and singing patriotic and religious songs and cheering their new leaders. There is also a widespread skepticism about the level of autonomy with which the newly elected people’s representative would govern. Understandably so, as Egypt’s military still have the power to ratify or veto bills. Nevertheless, this is a new beginning for Egypt and Egyptians.

Egypt’s interim PM Kamal Ganzouri empowered with presidential power

On Wednesday, the military regime of Egypt has awarded their new interim Premier with country’s highest power before inducting him into the cabinet. This allows Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri with power almost equivalent to that of a president except the power to control judiciary and military forces.

It is reported that Muslim Brotherhood and other political parties have opposed the way the current regime has misused their power to bulldoze on people’s aspiration for a change in the political guard. They were vociferous in their attack on the military, who they said, had no authority selecting 80-year-old Ganzouri as the Prime minister. The cabinet headed by Kamal Ganzouri would be functional until the presidential elections.

With the first phase of parliamentary voting over, there is still a long way to go before Egyptians get their first taste of civilian government. As of now Muslim Brotherhood is believed to be leading with 40 percent or more votes, while ultraconservative Salafi Al-Nour party as the close second.

Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood squashed possibility of alliance with ultraconservatives

In an attempt to address the concerns of youths and like-minded liberals in Egypt on Thursday, Muslim Brotherhood has denied any possibility of alliance with such parties who are ‘ultraconservatives’. In fact, they claimed to have no such reservations to form a coalition government with more liberal political partners. This is in response to the assumptions being made about the likelihood of a majority alliance between Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the ultraconservative Al Noor Salafi Muslim party.

Thursday also saw Egyptian administration postponing the declaration of the first phase of parliamentary election results by a day to Friday, stating record turnout as the possible reason. But, unofficially, it is confirmed that Muslim Brotherhood has already notched up the first place in the first round of the three round parliamentary elections.

After lifting of ban since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, Muslim Brotherhood, the main stream Islamist group in Egypt, has been busy in image building. They seem to come across as a responsible, forward-thinking Islamist party who are serious about nation building. In the two days of the parliamentary elections, they were seen trying to reach out to all sections of people with pamphlets and fliers and also helping people out with poll procedures. Whoever wins the elections, a tough balancing job is awaiting them – steering the country away from fanatics and poverty and at the same time gain the confidence of its people.

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.

Muslim Brotherhood: An emerging threat to Egypt's military regime

After the second day of voting Muslim Brotherhood, once a political outcast, is emerging as a strong contender to be the new face of Egyptian democracy. Buoyant by high turnout in the first two days of the parliamentary elections, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) is hopeful that it has what it takes to overthrow the military government and fulfill the aspirations of Egypt.

The second day of the election has been much like the first day i.e. peaceful. It is estimated that between Monday and Tuesday, the participation from the nine provinces might have crossed 70 percent mark. This is a welcoming change from Hosni Mubarak’s rule when elections were marked by large-scale rigging and violence.

The Freedom and Justice Party, founded by Muslim Brotherhood on 30th April, 2011, is an organized political party in Egypt, better positioned than its liberal competitors. Muslim Brotherhood are confident that they could push out the present military government from the seat of power on the strength of seats that they would claim. They further kindled the conflict with the ruling party by claiming that the high turnout is an indication of people’s desire for a credible and powerful civilian government. Just last week, a prominent member of the current military authority had expressed hope that they would be seen to play a prominent role in selecting Egypt’s new Prime Minister after the formation of new parliament.

Currently, the political rivalry in Egypt is simmering, to say the least! It is worth watching how the situation unfolds for Egypt and for all of its stakeholders.