The Egyptian electoral commission has announced that Mohamed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party has won the presidential election runoff, beating the independent candidate Ahmed Shafik, the last Prime Minister to the deposed dictator Hosni Mubarak, with 13.2 million votes out of 26 million, a share of 51.2 per cent on a turnout of just over 50 per cent. The result, however, does not settle the standoff between the Brotherhood and the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF), which did not even wait for the result before taking a series of steps which some Egyptians have called a constitutional obscenity. One crucial move was made by the constitutional court, made up of judges from the time of Mubarak, which unilaterally dissolved the national parliament. That body, elected between November 2011 and March 2012 in Egypt’s first-ever free polls, was to write a constitution for the new state. SCAF, for its part, has gone even further, awarding itself powers to veto changes in the constitution, to propose legislation, and to detain civilians and deploy the military at times of what it calls internal unrest; it would also retain control over the armed forces and have a veto on declarations of war.
In such a situation, it is far from clear what the newly elected President’s powers are to be, or what powers the military will relinquish, despite SCAF’s respective statements that they will hold their powers until a new parliament is elected and that they still intend to hand over to the new President on June 30. Discussions between the Brotherhood and SCAF have produced no decisive outcome. SCAF’s conduct is certainly ominous. The first implication is that the military fear losing control over major political decisions and the major institutions of state; in addition, their silence over economic issues is very telling in view of the economic dominance they have built up over a very long period. SCAF may not be acting solely on its antipathy to the Brotherhood, but even if it is now talking with the latter with a view to avoiding outright confrontation, what it is revealing is much more dangerous — namely its fear of democracy itself. The Brotherhood, on the other hand, is yet to show how it will reconcile its Islamism with the requirements of representative democracy. For the millions of Egyptians who endured savage repression for decades and then brutal violence when they rose against the erstwhile dictatorship in 2011, the democratic election of a President is a major step forward. But they will have to be on guard against the remnants of the old order, for the durable, broader transition they struggled for is still some distance away.
Keywords: Mohamed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt Presidential elections, Egypt revolution, Tahrir Square
There is some distance between a cup of tea and lips.This is a true test for Egyptians.
Egyptian's should now call for parliamentary elections, at the earliest (and use Tahir square for that). Mr. Mursi's government should function as the transition government which will oversea Egypt's graduation to a beacon to the West Asian Democracy Project, while also providing a platform of resistance to the existing state structures. Revolution is not just the ouster of a single leader, its a complete upheaval of the existing structures. Egypt has chosen a courageous path of revolution in a world of co-option, only its courage will see it through. The journey has just become. Trust the Brotherhood will rise to the occasion, not just for Egypt but the Ummah's sake.
It is ery unfortunate that The Hindu still has readers who fail to distinct Islam from Terrorism. Dear friends, Terrorism should be defined by 'what' is done, not by 'who' does. Then you will have to change your stand as you'll realize state sponsored terrorism like one being done by Israel against Palestinian civilians, and the people sponsored freedom fighting face of many struggles that the hegemonic Western media and a section of its Indian counter parts call terrorism like one being carried out by Hamas and Hisbollah. Come out of your prejudices first before you 'comment'.
'SCAF's conduct is certainly ominous..It speaks alot..Hardship continues for Egyptians!!
'independent candidate' is surely a strange choice of words for a stalwart of a system that was in power for 42 years. Also Mursi received 51.7% and not 51.2% of the votes, if you would like to believe the election commission.
The victory that Egyptian people fought for has been achieved only partly because though people voted their opinion but they are still to savour what real democracy tests like. I think even this small victory of Egyptian people is remarkable in a sense that just one failed election(in the winters of last year) and one successful democratic election can't undo the scarce that year long dictatorship has left on the Egyptian demography. Some conflict and disconnect in the army and democratically elected government is inevitable and its duty of international community as much as Egyptian stake holders in the name of Muslim's Brotherhood & SCFA to come to less frictional relationship.
The Muslim Brotherhood candidate won the election in a peaceful process. One hopes that organization will not establish a Taliban like Govt in Egypt.
You have clearly brought out the pre & post election scene in Egypt. Inspite of the struggle waged by a vast majority against the long, oppressive rule of the Mubarak regime, the military has not given any indication that it will respect the people's verdict & hand over the country to a democratically elected government. Apart from this fear, another crucial factor which would depend for the effective functioning of the Morsy government if & when it is formed is whether it will give representation to other religious factions that had supported the pro-democracy movement. If Morsy goes for a government with representatives from only the Muslim Brotherhood, there is no guarantee that it will have a stable government. In such a situation, the US & other major countries may not support the Morsy government & it would pave for the country's military to take over & suppress the chances of Egypt's return to democracy.
muslim brotherhood is just another fanatical group with subtle ties to terrorist organizations.
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