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Dec 5, 2011

Women See Bad News in Election Results

By Mara Revkin

Despite anecdotal reports of massive female turnout in Cairo and other governorates, women may very well be the biggest losers of Egypt’s first free and fair elections.  Although 376 female candidates are running for parliament, not a single woman was elected in the first stage of voting on November 28-29. And there is good reason […]

MENASource

Dec 5, 2011

News Update: December 5, 2011

By Mara Revkin

Run-off voting is in progress today, as candidates compete for 52 seats that were not decided in the initial round of voting on December 28-29, in which only 4 candidates won decisive victories. Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri reportedly reconsidered some of his cabinet nominees over the weekend, after several proposed appointments were rejected by the public […]

MENASource

Dec 4, 2011

Election Fever Dampens Enthusiasm for Protests

By Tarek Radwan

"If I see another protester, I swear I’d spit on him," said the exasperated taxi driver, observing a rally to commemorate the martyrs of the revolution in Tahrir Square on December 2. "Would you spit on someone whose brother, sister, or father died while fighting for your rights?" replied my brother, as he rode to […]

MENASource

Dec 4, 2011

First Round Election Results

By Mara Revkin

The High Electoral Commission released official results for the first stage of elections on December 4.  The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) led the polls with 40 percent of the vote and the Salafi Nour Party came in second with 20 percent, followed by the Egyptian Bloc with 15 percent. The Wafd Party won […]

MENASource

Dec 3, 2011

Video: HEC Head Too Tired to Announce Full Election Results

By Mara Revkin

Egypt’s High Electoral Commission (HEC) has once again delayed the announcement of full election results, already pushed back by two days. At a press conference on December 4, the commission’s head, Abdel Moez Ibrahim, announced a turnout rate of 62 percent and partial figures for some districts, before abruptly calling an end to the session, […]

MENASource

Dec 2, 2011

Amr Hamzawy and the Liberal Minority

By Michele Dunne

Congratulations to Amr Hamzawy, prominent liberal intellectual and a good friend, for winning his seat in Heliopolis as an independent in the first round of parliamentary elections.  And without so much as a runoff!   It is comforting that sound ideas, hard work, and courage count for something with Egyptian voters.  As this hilarious graphic […]

MENASource

Dec 2, 2011

Electoral Commission Confirms Record Turnout

By Mara Revkin

The High Electoral Commission is preparing to announce official results for the first stage of elections. The HEC’s preliminary statement confirms record turnout: 62 percent of eligible voters – 8,614,525 Egyptians – cast ballots in the first round   2,756 ballot boxes were supervised by 10,143 members of the judiciary This post will be updated […]

MENASource

Dec 2, 2011

Egypt’s “New” Cabinet Will Retain Old Faces

By Mara Revkin

Egypt moved a step closer to forming a new government on December 1, as Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri submitted his cabinet nominations to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF).

MENASource

Dec 2, 2011

News Update: December 2, 2011

By Mara Revkin

Following reports that the Freedom and Justice Party and Salafi Nour Party won around 40 and 20 percent of the vote, respectively, the FJP’s secretary general Saad al-Katatny issued a statement denying an “alleged alliance” with the Salafis to form an Islamist government.  Prime Minister Kamal Ganzouri is expected to announce the members of his […]

MENASource

Dec 1, 2011

Embassy Threatens Suspension of Tear Gas Exports

By Mara Revkin

The US embassy in Cairo appeared to sharpen its criticism of the military on December 1, warning that future exports of US-made teargas could be suspended if Egyptian authorities continue to use it to cause death and injury. The Guardian’s live blog reports: "The warning comes after it emerged that the Egyptian ministry of interior […]