Egypt may have voted, but don't celebrate just yet
Daniel Korski 6:27pm
Many thought the day would never come. Even as recently as yesterday, some doubted it
would happen. But today Egyptians went to the polls in the country's first parliamentary elections since Hosni Mubarak's fall,
hoping to take a first step toward democracy. Under a complex electoral system, voters picked both party lists and individual candidates. The final results are due by 13 January 2012.
As it stands, the Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest and best organised group, along with Salafists, are expected to do well in the vote — after all, Islamists did prosper in the elections in Morocco and Tunisia. But it is not assured. Voters may feel that the Islamists have been too opportunistic in both their alliance with the military and their unwillingness to join last week's protests.
Despite the problems experienced in the pre-election period, the election is likely to be fairer than anything organised in Egypt before. What happens after the election remains a mystery, however. The military junta — known as the SCAF — do not look like handing over control any time soon. And the exact powers of the new legislature and the new government remain unclear, as a new constitution has not yet been drafted. Further, how will the liberals react if they lose out? Will they take to Tahrir Square again, in hope of maintaining influence over the new parliament?
If the election in Egypt succeeds — that is, if it is fair, credible and peaceful — the effect will be profound. So far there have been no reports of serious election-day violence. But what comes after polling day will be even more important. Don't forget, Iraq also had elections but struggled to create a peaceful form of politics afterwards. Hopefully, Egyptians will have learnt from that.
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Verity
November 28th, 2011 6:36pm Report this comment"Egypt may have voted, but don't celebrate just yet".
OK.
Jez
November 28th, 2011 6:55pm Report this comment"Hopefully, Egyptians will have learnt from that."
Huh?!!!!!
Well, let's just say that you f*cking haven't Korski.
You obviously must be taking the p*ss with all these profound 'how did that happen?' bollocks articles you regurgitate often.
David Lindsay
November 28th, 2011 8:08pm Report this commentFifty per cent of those elected in Egypt today must be either workers or farmers.
Imagine that...
Banquosghost
November 28th, 2011 8:26pm Report this commentThe person in the picture in the Burka...I wonder how many times he went back in to vote!
Jez
November 28th, 2011 10:16pm Report this commentDaniel.
A bit OTT there from me.
I must apologise if a bit 'shouty' but what are you playing at?
It's almost comical the sudden realisation that the Muslim Brotherhood have completely steam-rollered the western backed facebook bloggers out of the way (or it certainly seems as though this could be a reality).
It was so obvious.
And then we've got Libya to plunge into 'Democracy' next.
Hexhamgeezer
November 28th, 2011 10:38pm Report this commentWhen God invented the phrase 'non sequitur',
he had master Korski's stuff in mind
Shazza
November 29th, 2011 11:24am Report this commentMr Korski - remember how you laughed at Glenn Beck? Are you laughing now?
Andy Carpark
November 29th, 2011 12:49pm Report this comment'If the election in Egypt succeeds — that is, if it is fair, credible and peaceful — the effect will be profound. ... But what comes after polling day will be even more important.'
This does not even make sense. The Cannibal Party is elected in a a fair, credible and peaceful election on Monday. A good thing. Everyone starts eating everybody else on Tuesday. A bad thing - so far as anyone but the Egyptian electorate can presume to judge, which is not at all. But everything was still hunky dory on Monday.
Fatigue is already setting in. Somewhere down below there is a tenth circle of hell where some unfortunate is spending an eternity untying all the knots in Korski's nonsense. Maybe by the time Armageddon comes around he will be writing commentary which rises to the dignity of being wrong.
Jez
November 29th, 2011 1:27pm Report this commentShazza!
Well said!
Verity
November 29th, 2011 3:08pm Report this commentI sent in a comment about the woman voting (she is showing her hand, the slut!) but it didn't run. In fact, censorship here has reached the paranoid level. Sometimes what one posts shocks the softwear to such an extent, it won't even accept the post for consideration. Sometimes, it accepts the post, but said post never appears on the blog.
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