This week's run-offs were in sharp contrast to the first round of parliamentary elections which saw an unprecedented turnout, reports Reem Leila Results of the parliamentary election run-off on 5-6 December were disappointing with few voters going to polling stations during its two days. Some observers believe the low turnout came following a physically and emotionally draining experience the week before. Other analysts said the results of the first phase could have left many voters despondent, and with the sense the outcome is a foregone conclusion, in the wake of what appears to be an Islamist majority of votes. Also, the scarcity of butane gas and its consequences which led to the deaths and injury of several people in fights over the tanks, drew attention away from more voting. Head of the Supreme Elections Committee (SEC) Abdel-Moez Ibrahim announced on 3 December the participation of 52 per cent of eligible voters in the first phase of parliamentary elections which took place on 28-29 November. The remaining 48 per cent did not participate. Ibrahim declared at a press conference that "the people's participation in this year's elections was unprecedented since the time of the Pharaohs." The joke was not too far off base. Out of 17,533,000 eligible voters in the nine governorates, 10,347,000 voted throughout the two days, a hefty figure in any Western country with a history of free and fair voting. Ibrahim said 517,000 votes were invalid. More than 10,000 judges participated in monitoring the electoral process. The first round of parliamentary elections constitutes 30 per cent of parliament's 498 seats. Ibrahim announced during the brief press conference that only four candidates were able to secure seats in the upcoming parliament. Former independent MP Mustafa Bakri won in Helwan and Maadi along with Ramadan Salem; Amr Hamzawy in Heliopolis; and Akram El-Shaer in Port Said. "Remaining candidates are now competing in the run-offs. In order to win a seat in parliament, a candidate must have 50 per cent, plus one voter," said Ibrahim. The outright winner of the first round was the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) of the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) which won 40 per cent of the votes. The Salafist Nour received a surprising 20 per cent, the Egyptian Bloc 15 per cent, the Wafd Party six per cent and the Wasat Party only four per cent. Ironically, the FJP which at the time of former president Hosni Mubarak was an outlawed group, have now gained the majority of votes. Accordingly, they stand to win a significantly high percentage of seats in parliament. The dismantled National Democratic Party (NDP) which was once the party of the majority, did not secure any seats in the future parliament. Last year, the NDP secured more than 70 per cent of parliamentary seats, which, in a stunning turnaround, the MB could win this year. Massive crowds insisted on going to the polling stations for the first stage of the first parliamentary elections to be held after the ousting of Mubarak at the start of this year's revolution. Hassan Nafaa, professor of politics at Cairo University, urged protesters in Tahrir Square who are staging a sit-in after deadly clashes a week earlier, to abandon their demonstrations and join this first democratic experience. "Despite the sweeping victory of Islamists in the first phase, it is too early to know how much power they will have in parliament, especially while drafting the new constitution. The ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces [SCAF] will still have its say," said Nafaa. The high turnout in the parliamentary elections, according to Nafaa, had quashed claims about the army wanting to take control of the country. "For the first time in years Egypt is breathing the air of democracy. People, whether men, women, young and old are experiencing democracy. They are enjoying standing calmly in long queues in order to cast their vote. People now believe the motto -- a single vote counts," said Nafaa. Sociologist Tharwat Ishaq at Ain Shams University agrees with Nafaa. "The number of people who participated in the parliamentary elections does not really matter. What counts is that the public has finally found a space for itself. It is essential that people feel they are fully involved in political life, especially when choosing who to represent them." During the electoral process there were several violations in polling stations, including last- minute campaigning outside voting stations, delays in the arrival of judges and ballots, and ballots that were not officially stamped. "The violations were minor and did not affect the democratic and transparent process of voting," Ishaq said. At the same time, Ishaq said he was not worried about the dominance of Islamists. "There are general, national and international norms which they will find themselves obliged to deal with. They are not living alone in the universe. They cannot ignore the community which has different ideological trends." According to Ishaq, Egyptians and democracy are the only winners in this parliamentary election.
