Al-Masry Al-Youm reports the results of counting in 24 governorates, in which Morsy is in first place, followed by Shafiq.
ELECTIONS
Live updates: Brotherhood’s Morsy leads in Egypt presidential elections
[Egypt Independent, English, 5/25/2012; See also Ahram Online, Al Jazeera]
Al-Masry Al-Youm reports the results of counting in 24 governorates, in which Morsy keeps first place, followed by Shafiq. The 24 governorates include Alexandria, Daqahlia, Sohag, Qalyubiya, Monufiya, Beheira, Gharbiya, Minya, Assuit, Kafr al-Sheikh, Qena, Fayoum, Beni Suef, Aswan, Damietta, Ismailia, Luxor, Port Said, Suez, the Red Sea, Marsa Matrouh, New Valley, North Sinai and South Sinai. Nationwide, Morsy has so far garnered 26 percent of votes (3.76 million). Shafiq has scored 23 percent (3.36 million). Nasserist Hamdeen Sabbahi follows Shafiq with 20 percent (2.996 million), Abouel Fotouh with 19 percent (2.728 million), then finally former Arab League chief Amr Moussa with 12 percent (179 million).
Egypt to pick Islamist or military man as president
[Reuters, English, 5/25/2012]
This week’s first-round vote has polarized Egyptians between those determined to avoid handing the presidency back to a man from Mubarak’s era and those fearing an Islamist monopoly of ruling institutions. The run-off will be held on June 16 and 17. The second round threatens further turbulence. Opponents of Shafiq have vowed to take to the streets if he is elected. But to supporters, Shafiq’s military background offers reassurance that he can restore security, a major demand of the population 15 months after Mubarak’s ouster. The Brotherhood announced early on Friday that the run-off would be between Shafiq and Mursi after almost all votes were counted. A member of Shafiq’s campaign also said Mursi and Shafiq were in the lead, but that counting was not complete. Official results are not expected until Tuesday.
Egypt judges to provide independent presidential vote-count
[Ahram Online, English, 5/24/2012]
A "Parallel Elections Commission" website has been launched on which the final results Egypt’s 2012 presidential elections will be announced.
The service is an initiative of a number of independent judges of the "Judges for Egypt" movement whose aim is to “preserve the voices of all Egyptians and the transfer of all the results with utmost precision,” as stated on their website. According to the movement’s spokesperson, Walid El-Shoraby, 300 judges will be in charge of overlooking the process, headed by Zakaria Abdel-Aziz, the former president of the Judges’ Club. The judges are expected to be in close contact with peers in poll counting stations late Thursday. The results will be recorded on their site, egyptpresident2012.com, by each polling station one by one, which will give Egyptians a chance to follow how their candidate is doing in every ballot box.
GOVERNMENT
Cabinet source: Governors will resign after new president is elected
[Egypt Independent, English, 5/25/2012]
The government of Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri and the governors in all governorates will resign after Egypt’s new president is elected as per the Constitutional Declaration, said an official government source. Planning and International Cooperation Minister Fayza Abouelnaga said in a briefing Thursday that the coming president will decide whether the current government will stay in office, adding that the government continues to do its duties until the end of the transitional period late June. The military council made a partial government reshuffle earlier this month that included the ministers of higher education, culture and legislative affairs.
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
U.S. looks forward to working with new Egyptian leader
[Egypt Independent, English, 5/25/2012]
The United States pledged on Thursday to "stand with the Egyptian people" and said it looked forward to working with their democratically elected government. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Egypt marked "another important milestone in their transition to democracy" by holding its first free election for president in two days of balloting. "We look forward to working with Egypt’s democratically elected government," she said in a statement.
Photo Credit: Egypt Independent
