Monday, June 18, 2012

Egypt's Brotherhood Claims Victory In Presidential Vote, But The Military Will Still Assert Control

Egyptians wait to vote in Cairo. This poll has lacked the sense of celebration of previous votes since the revolution. Photograph: Suhaib Salem/Reuters

Egypt’s Military Cements Its Powers As Voting Ends -- New York Times

CAIRO — Even as the ballot counting began Sunday night in Egypt’s first competitive presidential election, the ruling military council issued an interim constitution granting itself broad power over the future government, all but eliminating the president’s authority in an apparent effort to guard against a victory by the Islamist candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The military’s new charter is the latest in a series of swift steps that the generals, who have ruled since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak last year, have taken to tighten their grasp on power just at the moment when they had promised to hand over authority to elected civilians.

Read more ....

More News On The Elections In Egypt

Egypt Live Blog -- Al Jazeera
Egypt elections: Shafiq v Morsi - Sunday 18 June 2012 -- The Guardian
Morsi camp claims Egypt presidency win -- Al Jazeera
Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Mursi wins Egypt's presidential election -- The Australian
Egypt's Brotherhood declares its candidate president -- Reuters
Muslim Brotherhood Declares Victory In Egypt Election -- Radio Free Europe
Brotherhood claims victory in Egypt president vote -- AP
Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood candidate takes marginal lead as army power grab overshadows election -- The Telegraph
Egypt's generals act to negate outcome of presidential poll -- The Guardian
Military guards Egypt power as Islamists claim victory -- MSNBC

My Comment: Egypt's Islamists continue to rack-up victories at the ballot box. As a result of this win, I predict a push on their part to minimize the role that the military plays in Egypt's political life, and to undo the restrictions that the generals have imposed on them.

Here is an easy prediction .... expect more unrest and violence in the coming weeks/months.

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