Egyptians go to the polls to elect new president

23 May 2012

Elections to take place on 23 and 24 May

Egyptians will go to the polls to select the country’s next president on 23 and 24 May. For the first time, voters’ preferences will matter in a contest to elect a head of state in Egypt.

A total of 12 candidates will appear on the ballot paper from left-wing radical candidates to Islamists. Ten candidates were originally on the list, but were disqualified in April. Several other candidates have also dropped out of the race voluntarily at various points.

As polls open, the contest is still wide open with no clear favourite for the presidency, although several candidates have been tipped as frontrunners.

The Muslim Brotherhood’s official candidate Mohamed Mursi is expected to benefit from the considerable grass-roots support network of the Freedom & Justice Party.  Having already captured a majority of seats in both houses of Parliament, Mursi is looking to secure the presidency for the party.

Meanwhile ex-Muslim Brotherhood member Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh has garnered significant support from moderate business-friendly Islamists through his policies while benefiting from the endorsement of the Salafis, those who focus on the practices of ancient Muslims .

Amr Moussa, the former Arab League chief and Foreign Minister, remains a firm favourite with the pundits. He is hoping to garner support from voters looking for a credible alternative to hard-line Islamist candidates.

Ahmed Shafik, previously prime minister under Hosni Mubarak, is another presidential hopeful. He was initially disqualified from standing in the elections, but the decision was later overturned. He is a high-profile figure, however his links to the previous regime and close ties to the military could work against him in the election.

Hamdeen Sabahi has long-criticised the military council and heads up the left-wing Dignity Party. While popular with liberals, Sabahi is likely to lose out to Islamist candidates with a broader electoral base to draw upon.

With so many candidates to choose from, the election is likely to be played out in two stages. The first round of elections will take place on 23 and 24 May. The second round will take place on 16 and 17 June.

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