Aswat Masriya (London)
22 December 2011
The voting process went on in the second day of the run-off of the second phase of Egypt’s parliamentary elections.
In this phase elections are held in nine governorates namely, Giza, Ismailia, Suez, Beni Suef, Aswan, Sharkia, Biheira, Menoufia and Sohag.
Until now turnout in most of the governorates can be described as moderate. Limited violations have been reported regarding breach of the electoral silence. In Sohag the phenomenon of buying votes resurfaced.
The following is latest update we have received from correspondents of “Aswat Masriya” and news agencies.
Giza
Detained political activist Alaa Abdelfattah cast his vote at Torah prison, a security source said.
Yosri Abdelkerim, head of High Elections Commission’s technical sector, said that the commission was alerted to a fire that broke out on the rooftop of “Soqail” primary school in the fifth constituency in north Giza. Residents confirmed they managed to put out the fire which started in a pile of papers, wood and garbage on the rooftop. The incident has not affected the electoral process, the commission reported.
Freedom and Justice Party’s legal committee monitored that some judges at polling centres insisted on not allowing in enough candidates’ agents to attend ballot counting process, on the pretext that they were too many. However the number of candidates’ agents is not high as there aren’t many candidates in the run-off elections. In addition, there are around 700 ballot boxes in each constituency. The High Elections Commission has promised to allow in enough numbers of agents to monitor the ballot counting process until the announcement of final results.
Bihiera
Turnout is still very low, especially in run-off constituencies.
Average turnout in parties’ lists constituencies.
Some polling centres were opened late due to the late arrival of the judges. This was the case at Telbana Primary School, Al-Bahy Primary Schools in Itay Baroud and in Zaweit Saqr in Abu Matameir.
Aswan
A number of polling centres opened half an hour late due to the late arrival of representatives.
Very low turnout in most of the polling centres except those in the hometowns of the four candidates.
Demand is expected to increase after the end of Thursday market.
Suez
Military forces arrested a relative of Abdel Hamid Kamal, the candidate for the workers’ seat. His relative distributed electoral propaganda in front of one of the polling centres. The Egyptian Bloc supports Kamal.
On the other hand his supporters complained that some representatives were directing voters to choose the candidate of “El-Nour” Party.
Military personnel continued to give roses to female voters in front of polling centres in several areas of Suez, particularly in front of polling centres dedicated for women.
A military source told “Aswat Masriya” that this move comes in recognition of the effective participation of women in the electoral process. He stressed they serve as an apology to the ladies for the recent incidents experienced by women in the Kasr El-Aini Street.
Veiled Women are directing female voters to choose Hani Nour-Din and Mohamed Adel, in front of the city Youth Centre. Both are candidates of “El-Nour” Party.
“El-Nour” Party supporters are directing voters to choose a fork and TV, symbols of the party.
In front of Omar Makram School two people are guiding the voters to choose Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and “El-Nour” Party.
Sohag
Ahmed Haya-Allah the independent candidate on the workers’ seat in the third constituency, Tima resorted to buying votes.
Eye witnesses reported several cases of bribery in the form of money and drugs in Tima and Tahta constituencies.
Four polling centres in “Awlad Khalifa” village did not open for voters because of vendetta disputes between two tribes.
Freedom and Justice Party reported that a failed candidate offered bribes in favour of an independent candidate. The party confirms it has audio and video proof.
Thirteen polling centres did not open until ten o’clock due to the late arrival of the judges. This was the case in particular in Balyana, Dar Es-Salaam and Tima counties as well as in the village of Awlad Khalifa.
Turnout is low in all individual constituencies.
Demand is moderate in the second constituency; where competition is on parties’ list.
Reports of mass exodus of Copts in simultaneous times to vote.
Manifestation of electoral propaganda in front of polling centres of the first constituency, especially by supporters of FJP and “El-Nour” Party.
Beni Suef
Very low demand in most of the polling centres, particularly those in the governorate.
Some polling centres were opened up to half an hour late due to delays in dissolving the red wax seals.
Supporters of “El-Nour” Party continue to run electoral propaganda in front of polling centres.
Sharkia
Most constituencies of Sharkia governorate witnessed limited turnout. Yet there were violations especially in constituencies where members of disbanded National Democratic Party (NDP) are running.
Turnout in Zagazig’s first constituency was minimal.
In Belbis’ second constituency, supporters of Ibrahim Hegazi, a candidate of disbanded NDP, used company buses owned by Mahmoud Khamis, a former senior NDP member, to transport voters for Hegazi. Khamis also gave a day off for Oriental Weavers’ workers to vote for Hegazi, promising them monthly rewards and bonuses if they voted for him.
In the third constituency “Abo Kebir”, supporters of candidate Ali Meselhi, former NDP member, committed massive violations. They gathered a number of thugs and women outside the polling centre at “Rahma” primary school.
The army arrested one of the thugs supporting Ali Meselhi, who is also a former cabinet minister, while gathering female thugs outside voting committees number 51 and 52 at the medical centre.
Ismailia
Low turnout in run-off elections, according to Middle East News Agency (MENA), after Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party’s Hesham ElSouli won a seat in the second stage of the elections while Salafist al-Nour party’s Mohamed ElHawari won another seat.
MENA reported that 20% of eligible voters voted, according to official statistics of governorate’s operations centre, with 14% going on the first day and the remaining 6% on the second.
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