Moderate Islamist will rule Egypt

After a two-day delay on June 23 the results of the second round of presidential elections were announced in Egypt. Right after the vote supporters of the Association “Muslim Brotherhood” stated that their candidate Mohamed Morsi would win the first presidential elections after the fall of Hosni Mubarak and it, indeed, was right. The total number of 13.23 million voters accounting for 51.7 percent of the general number of those who voted supported Morsi. Farouk Sultan, head of the Presidential Elections Commission reported that Morsi’s opponent – Ahmed Shafik, Air Force General and former Prime Minister got 12.35 million votes or 48.3 percent.

Before announcing the results of the elections, he said that voting was held in accordance with current law. “Announcement of the results of the elections is a little overshadowed by tense and unfavorable atmosphere, but the vote count was done in strict accordance with Egyptian law. There is nothing above the law,” stressed Sultan. The head of the Elections Commission also noted that the Commission agreed with some reports of violations during voting, but described the overall number of complaints as inadequate for reconsidering the results of the presidential elections.

After the winner of the second round of presidential elections was announced, dozens of thousands of the “Muslim Brotherhood” supporters began the celebration festivities at the central square of Cairo Tahrir, which lasted all night – on the morning of Monday June 25 there still were the supporters of the newly elected president. Egyptian official media agency MENA reported that Shafik, in his turn, admitted his defeat and congratulated Morsi on his victory.

The newly elected president of Egypt, the leader of the moderate Islamist movement “Muslim Brotherhood” Mohamed Morsi urged citizens of his country to national unity. “The revolution continues, it will continue until all the goals of revolution will be achieved and together we will finish this march. People have been patient long enough,” said the president of Egypt. “I urge you, the great people of Egypt, to strengthen our national unity. Today I am the president of all Egyptians wherever they are.”

In his speech, which was aired on television, Morsi remembered protesters killed during last year’s uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak. Morsi said that without “blood of martyrs” he had no chance to become president.

Morsi said that he would seek fulfillment of all demands put forward by the opponents of the regime of Hosni Mubarak. In his speech Morsi also praised the role of the country’s armed forces. The newly elected president also promised that Egypt would comply with all international agreements and intends to “bring peace.” Immediately after the announcement of the election results Morsi left all posts related to “Muslim Brotherhood.”

World’s political leaders have already sent their greetings to Morsi. In particular, in the US the elections were called “a significant milestone in the transition to democracy of Egypt.” Barack Obama urged Egyptian government to fulfill its role as a “pillar of regional peace.” William Hague, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Kingdom also congratulated Morsi. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commenting on the election of Morsi expressed his hope that the peace treaty between the two countries will remain unchanged.

The Day asked Mohamed ELAGATI, executive director and researcher at Arab Forum for Alternatives in Cairo about what Morsi’s victory means for the future of Egypt and the region in general.

“After a week of anxious waiting since the voting on the second round of the elections Mr. Mohamed Morsi the Muslim Brotherhood candidate was declared as the first civilian president in Egypt with 51.73 percent in front of Mr. Shafik the last prime minister during Mubarak time. Most of the Egyptians consider it as new victory for the revolution, a large number of Morsi voters were voting Against Shafik and not for the new president.”

What the victory of Mr. Morsi means for future of Egypt and in general for future of region?

“The Victory of Mr. Morsi means that the Mubarak regime received another beat, and that the SCAF has failed another time in containing the revolution, as well they don’t trust the Muslim Brother enough, the 51 percent victory will put the new president always in Edge and can be easily challenged by the revolutionary opposition that is organizing itself to be ready if the new president does not keep his promise concerning the civil state values.

“Mr. Morsi will surely be forced to make political reforms, also I expect him to be very open concerning minority rights as a source for legitimacy at the west, also on the level of the regional role in the region Morsi will make a real positive change. The main problems in my opinion will be in women and personal rights. As well as the main challenges concerning the economic and social rights as the new president program does not differ from Mubarak’s regime program which will make him fast lose a large percentage of his credibility.”

How would go the situation in Egypt without parliament?

“The parliament issue is not yet settled and the SCAF is holding the legislative authority in its hands that means that they will not deliver the whole power like they promised. This relation is one of the main challenges facing new president the civilian military rights. In addition of the socioeconomic rights mentioned bellow, I think the Islamic movement will lose a lot of its popularity in the forthcoming years.”

How may develop relation of the country with nearby states and Ukraine?

“The international relation will be one of the main issues that will depend more on the stands of the foreign countries, they have to accept the new role of Egypt in its region, and to be able to deal with it, if this happens the relation with EU countries will be even better than before.”

The Day’s FACT FILE

Mohamed Morsi was born in Sharqia Governorate in northern Egypt in 1951. He received a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in engineering from Cairo University in 1975 and 1978, respectively. He then went overseas and received his Ph.D. in engineering from the University of Southern California in the US in 1982. After that for three years he was an Assistant Professor at California State University, Northridge from 1982 to 1985. In 1985, he returned to Egypt to teach at Zagazig University. Two of his five children were born in California and are US citizens by birth.

From 2000 until 2005 Morsi served as an independent Member of Egyptian Parliament. After the fall of Hosni Mubarak’s regime Morsi was elected the leader of Freedom and Justice Party founded by the movement “Muslim Brotherhood.” For a long time he was among the leaders of the “Muslim Brotherhood” but preferred to remain in the shadows, some argued that he lacked charisma.

Morsi was a backup candidate of “Muslim Brotherhood” in the presidential elections and participated in the campaign after the Khairat El-Shater was disqualified from the elections (formal reason to deny the right to participate in the elections was a criminal record under President Hosni Mubarak).