Egypts elections

The recent elections in Egypt, the first after February’s overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, have resulted in Islamic parties dominating the first part of the vote. As was widely expected, The Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party emerged with the largest share with 66 per cent of the seats allocated for individuals. This was 36.6 per cent of the vote. However, unexpectedly the fundamentalist al-eNour, ‘the party of Light’, emerged in second place with 24.4 per cent. With the moderately Islamist al-Wesat winning 4.3 per cent of the vote, religious parties are just shy of a two-thirds majority giving them the power to draft a new constitution.

These elections have been the freest and fairest in living memory, with voters choosing both an individual candidate and a party of choice in the first round, accounting for around a third of parliament’s 498 seats. Over the next few weeks, two further rounds will follow to decide the remaining two-thirds of seats in the lower house.         

Voting in the parliamentary rounds for the powerful lower house won’t be complete until January, but religious parties are increasingly confident they’ll maintain a clear majority throughout the stages. Outlined plans have already been drawn for a strict interpretation of religious law that would put Egypt on the road to an Islamic state. The newly elected parliament will oversee the writing of the country’s new constitution. With Egyptians due to go to the polls again in March to vote on the composition of the upper house, and then again in the summer to vote for a president, it’s clear the country’s future is still, as yet, undecided.

• Please pray that the voting process would be completed peacefully and fairly, without violence or disturbance.
• Pray that the people’s desire for change will bring forth a new strong Egypt, united in moving towards governance rooted in equality, justice and compassion.
• Pray for Tearfund’s partners throughout Egypt. Pray for strength, wisdom and guidance as they confront new challenges in a rapidly changing region.