For Egypt, It’s a Military Man or an Islamist
Hundreds of Egyptians set fire to the campaign headquarters of Ahmed Shafik after it was announced Tuesday that the Mubarak-era senior military commander had won enough votes to enter a runoff contest with the Islamic candidate Mohamed Morsi.
Hundreds of Egyptians set fire to the campaign headquarters of Ahmed Shafik after it was announced Tuesday that the Mubarak-era senior military commander had won enough votes to enter a runoff contest with the Islamic candidate Mohamed Morsi.
Fear of Islamic leadership appears to be persuading a great number of Egyptians to vote for an outright sympathizer of Mubarak and an avowed opponent of anti-regime protesters.
“If the runoff is between Morsi and Shafik, I will vote for Shafik,” said Saleh Ali Ahmed, a 39-year-old self-described Muslim, on the first day of the election. “Morsi is very weak within the [Muslim] Brotherhood, and he will have no real power.” –ARK
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Hundreds of demonstrators took to Cairo’s iconic Tahrir Square to rally against Shafiq, a member and unabashed supporter of the regime of former President Hosni Mubarak, toppled last year following a wave of popular protests. At least eight people were arrested, but no injuries or deaths were reported.
Campaigning on law and order and a heavy-handed crackdown on anti-regime protesters, Shafiq secured second place in last week’s vote. In what many Egyptians say is the most polarizing outcome of the elections, Shafiq will face the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, Mohamed Morsi, in a run-off that pits Islamists against a Mubarak holdover on June 16.
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After taking numerous steps to secure their own base of power, Egypt's military leaders gave their blessing, and the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi on Sunday was declared winner of the country's presidential elections.Egypt's military leaders gave their blessing, and the Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi on Sunday was declared winner of the country's presidential elections.
Egyptians, beset by a heat wave and overheated politics, resent American meddling in their contested presidential election.Egyptians resent a U.S. attempt to influence the outcome of their contested presidential election. Editor’s note: Since this dispatch was posted, election authorities have declared Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi the winner and Egypt’s new president.
Results showed a clear majority for Mohamed Morsi, the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, over regime candidate Ahmed Shafiq. But watch out for flames shooting from the military dragon.Results showed a clear majority for the Muslim Brotherhood candidate, but watch out for flames shooting from the military dragon.
A court ruling has inflicted a powerful blow on Egypt's revolution, stunning hopes for true democracy and reaffirming the control of the old elite.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s zeal for political power bears responsibility for the likelihood that a Mubarak-era holdover will win the Egyptian presidency, and the revolutionary youth defanged themselves by refusing to establish political representation, prominent dissident Mohamed ElBaradei told The Guardian.
Due to a decision by the high court to dissolve Egypt’s legislature, the country’s presidential election this weekend comes at a time when “there’s no parliament, no constitution or even a clear process for drafting one,” says “Democracy Now!” correspondent Sharif Abdel Kouddous.
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