Egyptian presidential election, 2012

The first round of the presidential election in Egypt in 2012 was held on 23 and 24 May 2012. On 16 and 17 June 2012 There was a runoff between Mohammed Mursi of the Islamist Freedom and Justice Party and is beaten as an independent candidate Ahmed Shafiq, who had served under the ousted president Hosni Mubarak as a minister and prime minister. The results were announced on June 24, 2012. Mursi won the election with 51.7 percent against Shafiq ( 48.3 percent).

Expatriate Egyptians were able to cast their votes at embassies and consulates of their country from May 11.

The choice is after the elections of 2005, the second presidential election in Egyptian history, in which takes up more than one candidate. It shall apply together with the 2011 general election and the election of the Shura Council in 2012 as an important intermediate step in a Changing Society, which in 2011 is associated with the revolution in Egypt. However, the second round was overshadowed by a controversial judgment of the Egyptian Constitutional Court, which declared the elections to be unconstitutional and led to the dissolution of Parliament. The approval of the Mubarak regime related Schafiq the presidential election was confirmed by the court.

Modalities

The choice of law rules for the presidential election were announced on 30 January 2012. Candidates must therefore have been born in Egypt as a child of Egyptian parents may not have dual citizenship and not be married to a foreigner. To be nominated, they need the support of at least 30 members of parliament or 30,000 voting electorate. The formal registration process for candidates began on March 10 and ended on April 8.

The final list of 13 candidates for the presidential election was announced on 26 April 2012.

Participating candidates

• Abu El- Ezz El -Hariri, Chairman of the Party Socialist Popular Alliance, Member of Parliament for the Alliance The revolution continues
• Mahmoud Hossam as an Independent
• Hossam Khairallah, candidate of the Democratic Peace Party

Abdulla Alaschaal, candidate of the Salafi party authenticity, retired ambassador and former Assistant Foreign Minister, had withdrawn his candidacy May 12, 2012 in favor of Mohammed Mursi. Also withdrew his candidacy had on 16 May 2012 Mohammad Fawzi Isa, candidate of the Democratic Party generation, and in favor of Amr Musa. Since the official deadline for the withdrawal of candidatures, however, was already exceeded, their names appeared on the ballot nonetheless.

Excluded candidates

On 14 April 2012, the Election Commission announced ten of 23 candidates of the presidential election to exclude, including al - Shater Chairat, Aiman ​​Only, Omar Suleiman and Abu Ismail Hasem. El- Shater, who was released in March 2011 from prison, should not participate in the election, because any law says that former prisoners for six years not allowed to compete in an election after serving their sentences or pardon, which also only applies. Suleiman did not as prescribed receive the support of voters from 15 provinces. He had previously received in a representative survey of the independent daily Al -Masry Al- Youm 20.1 percent most consent. A simultaneously endorsed by the majority in Parliament Act, which provides high representatives of the Mubarak regime for a period of ten years to be excluded from public office, has not yet been set by the military government in power. Abu Ismail was blocked because his mother had owned the U.S. citizenship. Candidates may according to law solely the Egyptian citizenship and must have descended from Egyptian parents.

All the candidates had to insert two days to appeal against the decision of the Electoral Commission. Despite objections by Suleiman, Abu Ismail and el- Shater, the Egyptian electoral commission remained on 17 April 2012 at their decision.

Other candidates are excluded:

• Houssam Khayrat, candidate of the Egyptian Arab Socialist Party
• Mortada Mansour, candidate of the National Party, former President of the Premiership football club Zamalek SC
• Mamdouh Qutb, candidate of civilization Party, former Director General of Intelligence Mucha Barat
• Barouma Ashraf, chairman of the party Misr Al- Kanana
• Ibrahim El- Gharib as an Independent
• Ahmad Awad Al- Saidi

The only woman as candidate, Bothaina camel, not registered.

Implementation

The candidate Ahmad Shafiq was insulted in the discharge of his voice by angry protesters pelted with shoes and stones. After he left the polling station, there were clashes between his supporters and opponents.

Because of the great interest the closing of polls shifted by one hour to 21:00 clock.

Election result

Reactions

Following the announcement of the first results demonstrating the evening of May 28 about 2,000 people at Tahrir Square against the outcome of the first round because it was unfair and not representative of their opinion. In Alexandria and Suez, there were protests. The campaign headquarters of Ahmad Shafiq in Cairo was the victim of arson.

Since a few weeks before the first round of the presidential election, a law was passed which high officials of the Mubarak regime forbade the nomination, Schafiqs participation in the elections has long been controversial. It was a question of interpretation of parts of the then-current Egyptian constitution, the extent to which this law could be regarded as binding. But the Egyptian Constitutional Court confirmed on 14 June 2012 not only Schafiqs candidacy, but also explained the parliamentary elections of November 2011 and January 2012 for illegal because counsel had a candidate for the parliamentary seats that had been earmarked for independent candidates. The verdict triggers violent protests in Egypt, several Egyptian parties spoke of a " counter-revolution " of the ruling military council since the fall of Mubarak and warned of a coup. Shafiq is considered the most favored by the military council candidate for the presidency.