Wednesday May 23rd 2012
Newsbook
News analysis
Egypt votes
Elections at last
Dec 1st 2011, 17:49 by The Economist online
TEN months after the ouster of Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians have been voting in their freest elections in six decades.
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Egyptians have voted in their first elections since the fall of Hosni Mubarak in January.Source: REUTERS -
In some seats voters had to choose from more than 100 candidates.Source: AP -
Protesters are still camped out in Tahrir, where they have been calling for the generals that have been running Egypt since Mr Mubarak's ouster, to go.Source: AP -
Many hoped that women would participate more fully in these elections - both as voters and as candidates - than in previous years.Source: AP -
Initial reports suggested that many women had turned out to vote.Source: AP -
Counting the ballots papers has taken days.Source: AP -
Islamist groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood seem to have scored between 30 and 40% in the first round of voting.Source: AFP -
But many Egyptians worry that no matter who wins the vote, the army will continue to play too big a role in Egyptian politics.Source: AP -
Even so, for most Egyptians, this is the beginning of a new era for their country, summed up in this graffiti: "We are building Egypt together".Source: REUTERS
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The free elections are fantastic, we Americans have it all and we do not even realize how much we have until we look at the world. The US is one of the few places that has completely safe elections where the people vote purely on what they want in the government. Egypt does not have this, their leaders essentially suck sometimes. They easily become corrupt and then take power for themselves. Looking at these pictures, I see that these people are taking the new power given to them as a blessing. They take every opportunity they can get to make their country better for everyone. Americans have always had free elections and so many people do not vote. the rest of the world is not so fortunate and needs to develop better governing systems. I have faith that Egypt will become better and rise to better times.
Glad to see change in this part of the country. Definitely well deserved liberation in their choice of leaders after Hosni. Although this is a step, it can be easily ruined with the military and the new government stepping toes, let's hope the military, as it has been and still is very active, knows when and when they should not intervene in everyday affairs that the government should handle.
In my view, let the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood win. As long as the institution of free expression remain in place, they will have less chance to rule their way of Sharia Laws..
Lets remember that this group (along with Hamas & Hizbollah) draw its power from its gorgeous (and free) services it provides to the poor Egyptians - thus, have created loyal followers, who feel indebted & dependent on MB for food, shelter, Medical services & education.
Once freedom of expression, coupled with an elected government, and market economy does take hold in Egypt. More and more Egyptians will have better chance for make better standard of living for themselves - and with it less & less dependency on these religious groups.
All this attributes are kiss of death to fundamentalist.
Democracy Egyptian Style
50 registered Parties
Islamist Conservatives, Nationalist, Liberal
19000 candidates
The freedom to vote for anyone you choose.
And the winner is.........?
The Egyptian Military.
Obviously