Egypt: Divisive Figures Emerge as Likely Second-Round Candidates

May 25, 2012 from ABC News (Australia)

Counting in the first round of Egypt's first free elections has revealed no candidate will emerge with an overall majority, meaning there will be a run-off -- likely between Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy and former prime minister Ahmed Shafik. The two are likely to polarize opinion between those who reject any links to former President Hosni Mubark's regime, and others who fear a hardline Islamist in charge.

(more) (less)

In This Video

Egyptian presidential election, 2012

A presidential election was held in Egypt on 23 and 24 May 2012. The main election was held on 16 and 17 June. The Muslim Brotherhood declared early 18 June 2012, that its candidate, Mohammed Morsi, won Egypt's presidential election, which would be the first victory of an Isla... Explore this topic

Mohamed Morsi

Mohamed Morsi is the fifth and current President of Egypt, having assumed office on 30 June 2012. Mohamed Morsi was educated in Egyptian public schools and universities; he was later granted a scholarship from the Egyptian Government to prepare for a PhD degree in the United S... Explore this topic

Ahmed Shafiq

Ahmed Mohamed Shafik Zaki is an Egyptian politician and a former candidate for the presidency of Egypt. He was a senior commander in the Egyptian Air Force and later served as Prime Minister of Egypt from 31 January 2011 to 3 March 2011. After a career as a fighter pilot, and ... Explore this topic

Egypt

Egypt, officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. Most of its territory of 1,010,000 square kilometers lies within North Africa and i... Explore this topic

Muslim Brotherhood

The Society of the Muslim Brothers is the Arab world's most influential and one of the largest Islamic movements, and is the largest political opposition organization in many Arab states. Founded in Egypt in 1928 as a Pan-Islamic, religious, political, and social movement by t... Explore this topic

Politics of Egypt

The politics of Egypt is based on republicanism, with a semi-presidential system of government. Following the Egyptian Revolution of 2011, and the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, executive power was assumed by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which dissolved th... Explore this topic

Freedom and Justice Party (Egypt)

The Freedom and Justice Party is an Islamist political party and the most popular party in Egypt. The president of the party, Mohamed Morsi, won the 2012 presidential election, and in the 2011 parliamentary election it won more seats than any other party. It is nominally indep... Explore this topic

Egyptian Revolution

The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 took place following a popular uprising that began on 25 January 2011. It was a diverse movement of demonstrations, marches, plaza occupations, riots, non-violent civil resistance, acts of civil disobedience and labor strikes. Millions of protes... Explore this topic

President of Egypt

The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt is the head of state of Egypt. Under the Constitution of Egypt, the president is also the supreme commander of the armed forces and head of the executive branch of the Egyptian government. The current president is Mohamed Morsi. Explore this topic

Prime Minister of Egypt

The Prime Minister of Egypt is the head of the Egyptian government. According to the constitution, the prime minister is the leader of the largest political party in the Egyptian Parliament. In the late 1970s, Egypt had several cohabitation governments which proved to be unsta... Explore this topic

Also See

Egyptian presidential election, 2012

Mohamed Morsi

Ahmed Shafiq

Watch Next

3:23

How Will the US React to Egypt's Morsi Government?

VOA News | Jun 27

Islamist politician Mohamed Morsi will be sworn in Saturday as Egypt's new president. Mariama Diallo of VOA News examines what this power shift mea...