Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate has a tough task ahead
Mohamed Morsy is set to become Egypt’s first elected President following a historic election, brought about by an uprising that first expelled the former dictator, Hosni Mubarak, and then paved the way for the country’s transition to democracy.
As a nation gripped in suspense watched, Farouk Soltan, head of the Supreme Presidential Election Commission, announced after a lengthy preamble on Sunday that Mr. Morsy, the Islamist candidate belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, won a bitterly contested race. He secured 51.7 per cent of the vote, defeating Ahmed Shafiq, who got 48.3 per cent.
Cairo’s Tahrir Square, the ground zero of the revolution, filled by Mr. Morsy’s supporters, erupted in elation as the message of their candidate’s victory homed in.
For the next few minutes, a giant roar seemed to overwhelm the square, where thousands waved the Egyptian flag, while some sought vantage points to express their joy. Emotions, built on the bedrock of anxiety, ran high as both candidates had claimed victory earlier.
Mr. Morsy’s supporters were particularly on edge after the recent rulings by the generals negated much of their previous electoral gains. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) had earlier dissolved an elected Muslim Brotherhood-dominated parliament, following a ruling by the country’s highest court, which ruled that one-third of the People’s Assembly had been unconstitutionally elected.
Sunday’s announcement was a giant moment for the Muslim Brotherhood, whose candidate managed to scale the highest office of the land, after 80 blood-stained years since the group was formed.
Mr. Morsy’s victory is set to resonate in West Asia and North Africa, where Libya is heading for elections next month, and moderate Islamists, following the example of Turkey’s Justice and Development Party, have triumphed in Tunisia.
Despite the euphoria that has followed the announcement, Mr. Morsy’s task is cut out. The parliament has to be restored, for after its contentious dissolution, the generals have grabbed all legislative powers. The SCAF has also stripped the president-elect of significant political powers by adding a debilitating annexure to an earlier constitutional declaration. The writ of the President, no longer the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, will not run over the Army, which has, in effect, recast itself as a state-within-a state.
The drafting of a new constitution, on which hangs the promise of Egypt becoming a civil state, is set to emerge as a new arena of conflict between the Muslim Brotherhood and the SCAF.
Keywords: Egypt Presidential poll, Mohamed Morsy win, Muslim Brotherhood, Ahmed Shafiq, Tahrir Square, Arab Spring
History....Egyptian did their job now leadership has to perform as per their commitment.
Tipu Qaimkhani- Quite the contrary. A govt is judged by how it administers its weakest adversaries. Let us see how Mr Morsy treats the Coptic Christian minority, not with respect to their numbers but with respect to their rights. A case in point is how he resolves the long- standing debate about Islam-Christianity conversion, which has a tumultuous legal history in Egypt. Will their rights improve?
@Karthik As a Urdu proverb goes, you can't clap with one hand. World should judge both Egypt and it's minorities by how many of them remain after 5 year. Also, Egypt's economy could suffer as the West squeezes Egypt as a punishment for throwing out a pro-West despot, as they are doing in Iran, Sudan and Venezuela. This could also cause the minorities to emigrate.
Most of the Egyptians I met here are happy with the result. If Mr. morsi can work to restore democracy there, it will be good for all the Arab-world. Muslim brother hood are fundamentalists, and supporters of extremists, that is what being propagated now. Mr. Morsi have to show the world that what the Party is, and what is its agenda. Anyway, congratulations Mr. Morsi
''I have been given the authority over you, but I am not the best of you. If I do well, help me; and if I do wrong, set me right. Obey me so long as I obey Allah and His Messenger, but if I disobey Allah or His Messenger, you owe me no obedience." The first words of Egypt's new president Dr. Mursi, are the same first words when Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) became the Khalifah. O Allah, give him & us sincerity, turn his words & ours into action, and grant all our countries righteous leaders! - Sheikh waleed AbdulHakeem
Will the military junta disappear now ?
Mohammed Morsi should become the Supreme Commander of the Defense Forces also. The new constitution needs to take care of this aspect.USA and other Countries which actively supported the restoration of democracy should put suitable pressure on the military and help Morsi pass the new constitution without much confrontation.Egypt should become a 'true democracy' meeting the aspirations of all sections of the Egyptian society.
Commitment to the path of democracy is the wise decision. Let now peace and tranquility be built and Egyptians prosper as the governance is by, of and for themselves. God bless Egypt.
Folks around the world will judge Egypt on only one criteria. The percentage of minority that remains in 5 years.
This is a truely significant moment for entire Middle-East. Kudos to the Egyptians who vailently stood upto to Military junta and paved the way for first democratic elections. more importantly rather than being pessimist the world should be optimistic about Brotherhood. Let us give them a fair chance (which is very much legitimate) to demonstrate their development model, governance. Let Egyptian democracy become a model for entire middle-east. All the best Egyptians!
more democracy to people will diminish hegemony of USA and enable common public to dictate their support for more welfare state and more transparent functioning of govt without any external influence,Egypt will become working democracy and set an example for neighbouring nation and maintain peace,
Doomsday in the making... you shall see another Islamist fundamentalist Nation, that is going to be the ground of future Terrorism Anarchism etc.. words would'nt describe what the The Great Egyptin people have put themselves into.. the land of the parohas is going (gone) down the drain... how much I loved my Egypt...
It is the time for a fruitful transition,indelibly it ll pave a stone strength plinth to a fruitful nation heading to the lusture of lackdisgrantledness.Hope a new sun has been lit from the paradise to guide this nations transformation to a conclusive mode where there is equility,justice and freedom.We pray to Almighty fr stable transformation and courage to the people to work for it.
this is a historic transition for Egypt from dictatorship to Islamic democracy. it is moment for them to create history and set a model for neighbouring arab nations.it is high time for them to modernise their nation and focus on development that can be best fountain out of the spring.their constitution can have universal islamic laws as well as personal laws for the minority like in india(taking care of interests of minority)so framing constitution should not become a problem, india can help them in this matter.
Change is the law of nature. Now the new elected President should respect the emotions and feelings of the Muslim Umma in general and the people of Egypt in particular. He should be more accommodative and should tolerate every view. Wish him to be a successful and ideal President for whole world.
Sadly, since the first round Hamdeen Sabbahi has been missing from the political scene. Honest secular people like Sabbahi are in short supply in the world these days. Just like true Islam, true secularism has also been hijacked by vested interest. For a Turkey like inclusive democracy, the Brotherhood needs to win over the Nasserite block whose support base is comparable to Brotherhood's.
its is quite good in EGYPT N THE FIELD OF DEMOCRACY & HOPE that it will bring peace & prosperity
Egyptians have shown that Islam and democracy are compatible. The civilians showed army the door. The first act of the President should be to restore the Parliament and abolish the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. This would be the best time to do, as army has surrendered to people's will. They tried to play tricks with people's emotions, by delaying the results, and trying to arouse the sympathisers of Mubarak by exaggerating his health problems. In the last few days, they tested the resolve of the egyptians, who displayed their decent will to have a properly elected civilian as the head of their state. Not withstanding the SCAF's dodgy deals and announcement, Egyptian president is now a leader of his people and army should be subservient to the people, and should get back to barracks. Muslim brotherhood have a responsibility to erase the fear complex generated about them across the world especially in Israel. The president should speak Mandela rather than Ahmadinejad.
history unveils that every transition in past from military rule to
democratic reign has been tumultuous but blood shed by martyrs never
went into vain,it has always bear fruits.Now the very, much anticipated
change by Egyptian not only established democracy but also lead to
economically and socially healthy nation.
The flag bearer of Arab spring now able to translate itself into some true democratic structure .Hope the civilian president (after a long time)elected through a democratic process will raise the mantle & guide the country to a mature & stable democracy although we can’t but have a little doubt about socially religious platform of Muslim brotherhood & what it interprets for India.
May peace return to this troubled land and people of all communities live in peace and harmony.
Hopefully we will have a smooth transition to democracy and see Eqypt as a strong muslim democracy comfortable in its own skin ,economically prosperous and in peace with other countries in the region including Israel .
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