The excuses have started to fill the headlines--no, not by candidates. The excuses are coming in for how a "feloul" could be among the top two vote recipients in Egypt's first democratic election.
"Feloul" is the Arabic transliteration for a term that means "remnant", referring to the remnants of the former Mubarak regime. Amr Moussa and Ahmed Shafiq were hotly contested candidates going into the election, and until this week, most felt Moussa would make a strong run for the Presidency.
Moussa and Abouel Fotouh's nationally televised debate a couple of weeks ago, as the presumed leading candidates, appeared to harm both their chances as they merely belittled and accused one another. Neither candidate looks to finish in the top three positions.
The most polarizing candidate in this election, Ahmed Shafiq, may not only be in the top two candidates, he may be the top candidate when all the votes are tallied and announced. As of current reports, about 100,000 votes separate he and Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy--Cairo and Gaza polling stations are still unofficial as the counting process continues. (Hamdeen Sabbahi is in third).
So how can this be? 1 year + after the revolution toppled the regime; after sweeping victories by Islamists in the Parliamentary elections; after multiple efforts to discredit and derail the campaigns of the "feloul"; after Shafiq had to end his campaign tour due to insulting shoes thrown at him during a speech, and then again on Wednesday chased from his polling place by a mob also throwing shoes?
How can Shafiq still be an option for President?
Well, that's what everyone is trying to figure out now as the excuses start rolling in:
 |
| defaced Shafiq poster with "feloul" written over his name |
Moussa and Abouel Fotouh's nationally televised debate a couple of weeks ago, as the presumed leading candidates, appeared to harm both their chances as they merely belittled and accused one another. Neither candidate looks to finish in the top three positions.
 |
| Click for CNN Report |
So how can this be? 1 year + after the revolution toppled the regime; after sweeping victories by Islamists in the Parliamentary elections; after multiple efforts to discredit and derail the campaigns of the "feloul"; after Shafiq had to end his campaign tour due to insulting shoes thrown at him during a speech, and then again on Wednesday chased from his polling place by a mob also throwing shoes?
How can Shafiq still be an option for President?
Well, that's what everyone is trying to figure out now as the excuses start rolling in:
- Some blame the Coptic Church for directing their members to vote for Shafiq. This obviously will not help interfaith relations if this excuse is continually fed to riotous revolutionaries.
- Some blame the Muslim Brotherhood for such poor progress in their first few months in the Parliamentary leadership.
- Some blame the various revolutionary parties for not banding together to give one unified candidate to stand against the former regime and Islamist candidates.
- Some blamed the media for daily telling how the revolution had led to declining security and economic conditions in Egypt.
- Some blamed the tribal leaders in the rural areas for not encouraging the individuals in their tribes to vote.
- UPDATE (5/26): "Shafiq accused of vote buying and threatening voters in Mansoura"
 |
| Click for AlJazeera Report |
The rate of excuses may be faster than vote counting at this point.
And what now?
The Muslim Brotherhood versus the former Prime Minister? We're still waiting for the official announcement.
Until then, continue to Pray for Egypt...
UPDATE 26 May:
The Divisive Runoff (Egypt Independent article)
UPDATE 26 May:
The Divisive Runoff (Egypt Independent article)
No comments:
Post a Comment