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Egypt votes for 2nd day to pick Mubarak successor

The Muslim Brotherhood declared early today that its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, won the election, based on results announced by election officials at individual counting centers. Final official results are not expected until Thursday.

The voting comes only days after the nation’s highest court ruled a portion of parliament invalid Thursday, dissolving the government body and leaving full legislative authority to a group of ruling generals who have been governing since Hosni Mubarak was ousted.

PHOTOS: Egyptians vote for president

The ruling military issued an interim constitution Sunday that defined the new president’s authorities, a move that sharpened the confrontation with the Muslim Brotherhood and showed how the generals will maintain the lion’s share of power no matter who wins.

They will be the de facto lawmakers, control the budget and will control who writes the permanent constitution that will define the country’s future.

Many Egyptians said they considered the first round of voting to be free and fair. But faith in the system this time with the runoff has diminished.

“People are frustrated now, and scared,” said Abdel Moneim Al Ashour, after he voted Saturday in Dahab, a town on the Red Sea coast.

Military and police increased security outside polling spots for the two-day vote.

The elections were carried out with little violence despite a polarized election and growing unease since the revolt forced Mubarak from power more than a year ago.

The runoff this weekend provided voters with a stark choice between Islamist candidate Morsi and former regime official Ahmed Shafiq.

At a pre-dawn news conference today, Morsi promised to “be a president for all Egyptians” and to seek a “civil, democratic, constitutional and modern state.”

Shafiq drew support from those seeking law and order — the primary appeal of his campaign. His supporters say the former civil aviation minister, who was also Mubarak’s prime minister, can restore stability and revive the economy.

“There’s fatigue with the chaos and uncertainty of the past,” said Michael Wahid Hanna of the Century Foundation, a think tank in New York City. “That kind of turbulence has taken a toll on people.”

Critics view Shafiq as a blow to the revolution. Those who want a complete break from the old regime and believe in rule by Islamic law support Morsi.

“I like Morsi’s program,” said Mohammad Bedouina, a shop owner from the North Sinai. “And he’s afraid of God so he’ll do things correctly.”

“This was really an anti-Islamist vote,” said Marwan Elaraby, who works at an investment firm, on his support for Shafiq. “In light of not having a constitution, I think it’s wise to stick with the devil you know.”

Others took a different approach. “I didn’t vote for either candidate,” Nader Maurice said as he left a polling station in an upscale Cairo neighborhood called Zamalek. “I wrote down that I was hoping for change.”

Source:USA TODAY

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