Egypt votes in parliamentary elections
Agencies, Cairo :
Egyptians are voting for a parliament expected to firmly back President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has crushed all opposition since ousting his predecessor, Mohamed Morsi, in 2013.
The much-delayed vote for the 596-member parliament – the previous assembly was dissolved in June 2012 – is to be staged in two phases between October 17 and December 2.
Polling stations opened at 9am (07:00 GMT) and will close at 9pm, with more than 27 million people across 14 of Egypt’s 27 provinces eligible to vote on Sunday and Monday in the first phase.
Analysts said most of the more than 5,000 candidates in the polls overwhelmingly support Sisi and are expected to dominate parliament.
“If lawmakers wanted to, they could install a certain balance,” said Youssri al-Azabawi, expert at the Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.
“But, in view of Sisi’s popularity, it won’t happen. The president will maintain considerable powers.”
Egyptians are voting for a parliament expected to firmly back President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who has crushed all opposition since ousting his predecessor, Mohamed Morsi, in 2013.
The much-delayed vote for the 596-member parliament – the previous assembly was dissolved in June 2012 – is to be staged in two phases between October 17 and December 2.
Polling stations opened at 9am (07:00 GMT) and will close at 9pm, with more than 27 million people across 14 of Egypt’s 27 provinces eligible to vote on Sunday and Monday in the first phase.
Analysts said most of the more than 5,000 candidates in the polls overwhelmingly support Sisi and are expected to dominate parliament.
“If lawmakers wanted to, they could install a certain balance,” said Youssri al-Azabawi, expert at the Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.
“But, in view of Sisi’s popularity, it won’t happen. The president will maintain considerable powers.”
