Elections In Egypt Begin Amid Tensions
Election In Egypt
Egyptians on Monday began to vote in the first elections since the ouster of president Hosni Mubarak following a week of violent confrontations between the security forces and the people who demanded that the military rulers step down and transfer the power to the civilians. Queues were formed early in the day, showing that the population favors the idea of elections and is enthusiastic about it. Due to administrative problems, there were places where the elections started later than scheduled.
While the vote is being carried on, the Tahrir Square is still occupied by protesters who demand that the vote be postponed. Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, the leader of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces in power in Egypt ruled out the possibility of failure, saying that the country was at a crossroad and it was whether they succeeded on political, economic and social level or the country would fall. Tantawi added that the military would not allow this to happen.
50 million Egyptians are expected to vote candidates from 50 political parties, most of them formed soon after the regime was toppled. The vote that begins on Monday would last until March 2012, and its first stage, which runs until January, will elect the 508 members of the parliament, called in Egypt the People’s Assembly.
Many people said they were voting for the first time in their lives and that their vote was for freedom, after decades of living in slavery. Some people expressed fear of the Muslim Brotherhood, saying that after four decades of Mubarak rule they would have now to live under the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Even though many have turned out to vote it is not sure how many people would cast ballot considering that the time to prepare was short. The new parliament is expected to be dominated by Islamist parties. Liberals and factions on the political supporters of Mubarak are also expected to be present in it.
The results of the first round of vote would be allowed on Wednesday but the parliament will be formed no sooner than March.
Protests in Cairo and in the large cities of Egypt demanded last week that the military rule end before the elections began. The protesters said that they rejected any decision made by the ruling council.
At least 41 people were killed and 2000 were wounded during the confrontations last week, prompting the ruling council to apologize to the people for the victims, and to reassert their commitment to democratic rule of the country.
The protests were sparked by a document by which the military was attempting to avert the control of the civilian authorities over the budget.
As a result of the unrest, the military promised to form a new government and transfer power by July next year. As the pressure continued, Kamal al-Ganzouri was asked to form a new government which is expected to be announced on Monday.
