Five of the top candidates yesterday cast their ballots as Egypt's historic presidential elections began in earnest. Al-Ahram Weekly's reporters were there for the opening kick-off Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh Abul-Fotouh is among the 13 hopefuls running for the presidency. A former member of the Muslim Brotherhood Abul-Fotouh portrays himself as a consensus choice, touting the range of his support, but some suspect he is more conservative than he admits. Abul-Fotouh who arrived at Ibn Al-Nafis polling station early in the morning took his place among the voters queue for just a few minutes. Since Abul-Fotouh is over 60 years old he was taken by one of his supporters to an imaginary queue for elderly voters. As the weather got hotter, the potential president was thrilled, saying as he laughed, "Oh, great. I'm over 60 by three months." Abul-Fotouh who went inside the polling station immediately without standing in any queues, told the press, "today is a historic day as Egyptians are choosing their president who should preserve the country's and citizens' dignity, nationally and internationally." But there was anger at Abul-Fotouh's polling station in Ibn Al-Nafis School in Nasr City as well as those of Al-Matareya and Omar Ibn El-Khattab. Abul-Fotouh did not have to line up to vote, bypassing thousands of voters who had been waiting for their turn for hours. Judges at the polling booth were trying to let Abul-Fotouh vote before others despite protests from those on line. "I am an old man and have been waiting in front of the booth for one hour. I will vote before he does. It's my turn and my right," said one voter. Journalists, even those who were without permits issued by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) did not find any difficulty in entering any of the polling stations. Reporters were able to interview any election worker, voter and judge. At the Ibn Al-Nafis polling station one member of the campaign of candidate Mohamed Mursi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, was trying to persuade voter Magda El-Said Eissa to vote for Mursi. "I went to the judge and complained. The judge dismissed him from the polling station and officially reported the incident to the PEC," said Eissa. Abul-Fotouh commented on the incident: "I trust the judges' monitoring of the voting process. They are not bias to any of the candidates. I will willingly accept the result of the elections as long as there is no forgery of any kind and it is a clean process. "I asked the judges to cross out all those who are not eligible for voting such as policemen and army men from the voters' list in order to guarantee a transparent result." Mohamed Ahmed, 25, an engineer who was proud while waiting for his turn to vote. "We have spent the past 30 years afraid to speak. Why should we feel afraid now?" Ahmed asked. As Abul-Fotouh ended his tour by performing noon prayers at Amr Ibn Al-Aas Mosque at Misr Al-Qadima, he was assaulted by some voters, mostly Mursi supporters, at Al-Matareya district. Several men dragged Abul-Fotouh by the collar; his bodyguards were unable to prevent the incident. Abul-Fotouh had to leave while under police protection. Still, he was smiling when he told the public and the press, "This is expected because no candidate will have the support of all the voters." Reem Leila Hamdeen Sabahi At 11.30am sharp as announced by his campaign team, presidential hopeful Sabahi left the building where he lives in the upper middle class neighbourhood of Mohandessin to cast his ballot in the first ever openly contested elections in Egypt's history. The man whose campaign slogan has been "One of us" was warmly received by dozens of ordinary citizens who wished him luck and reminded him of his key promise: to work on behalf of Egypt's poor. "Don't forget the poor, Mr President," said one woman dressed in the traditional black galabiya [robe] amid ululations and cheers from the crowd. "That's why I entered the race: to defend the poor," Sabahi replied quickly. As a politician who has long defended the socialist policies of former president Gamal Abdel-Nasser, Sabahi was hoping to be the candidate accepted by the majority of poor and middle class Egyptians. Between Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Mursi and those considered to be loyal to the former regime, namely former prime minister Ahmed Shafik, Nasserist candidate Sabahi aspires to be the choice of those who reject both. In recent opinion polls, and in the results of voting by Egyptian expatriates, Sabahi has been fairing reasonably well, coming third after moderate Islamist candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh and Mursi of the Brotherhood. He was followed by former foreign minister Amr Moussa and Shafik. "This is the day in which Egyptians decide their destiny and start a new stage in which they regain their rights in the wealth of their nation, restore their dignity and adhere to their own national decision," Sabahi told reporters who accompanied him to a school nearby where he cast his ballot. Sabahi's platform of defending an independent foreign policy is among the very reasons listed by those who decided not to vote for him, fearing this would disrupt Egypt's positive relations with the United States and scare away investors. However, Sabahi insisted he would stand by "all Egyptians, including honourable investors who pay their taxes and reject corrupt practices of the former regime." The small motorcade that accompanied Sabahi from his home to the school where he cast his ballot was well received by people on the street, some raising the victory sign and others praying to God he would do well in the ballot box. Even though there were reports of clashes between his supporters and those of Shafik in one of the schools where voting was taking place, Sabahi said he was largely satisfied. "Generally speaking, I think the day has been going well so far, despite a few violations here and there. The clash with Shafik supporters was limited, and I hope that authorities will intervene to stop such tension because we all want to vote in a free and fair atmosphere." He added, "if everybody is convinced that the elections are free and fair, we should all accept the result and the choice of the Egyptian people." Seeking to confirm his image as an ordinary citizen, Sabahi vehemently rejected offers by several voters to take their place in the long queue. "I am one of the people, and I don't accept any favours," he told voters amid cheers from some. Sabahi was accompanied by prominent film director Khaled Youssef and producer Mohamed El-Adl, who are members of his election team and who managed to mobilise many intellectuals and artists behind Sabahi. Responding to a question by Al-Ahram Weekly on his reaction to reports that the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) would soon issue a new constitutional declaration determining the powers of the next president -- allowing the defence minister alone to determine the army's budget and appoint top officers -- Sabahi provided a firm answer. "The president should maintain all the powers that would enable him to perform his job, including the appointment of the cabinet, without any preconditions related to any particular post or ministry." The presidential hopeful also asked that Egyptian voters cast their ballots while being aware that "he or she would not have reached this present stage without the sacrifices of the martyrs who died during the 25 January Revolution. They are the ones who made our future. I will remain loyal to them and to the poor who have suffered a lot while maintaining their honour and dignity. Now is the time for all those to regain their rights. Today, the revolution has left Tahrir Square and is about to enter the presidential palace." Khaled Dawoud Ahmed Shafik Shafik started the first day of voting differently than all other candidates. "Shafik was taken to the hospital with a heart attack." "No, he has quit the election in favour of Amr Moussa." "Oh, forget it. Shafik is banned by law from voting. He is out of the presidential race." Those were the rumours swirling around Shafik. In reply, Shafik's electoral campaign invited the media for a press conference. That was Wednesday, after the 48-hour electoral silence imposed by the Presidential Elections Commission (PEC) which started at Monday midnight. The PEC received a complaint that Shafik had broken the news blackout rules by convening a press conference on election day. The complaint was referred to Prosecutor-General Abdel-Meguid Mahmoud. Farouk Sultan, head of the PEC, said yesterday that holding a press conference by candidates would not violate the blackout rules "unless the press conference contained clear propaganda in favour of the candidate". In the press conference, Shafik tried to squash the rumours. "I am here standing on my feet, healthy and willing to go to the very end of the race," stated Shafik before the crowds at the small garden of the villa allocated for his electoral campaign. "It seems that the strict promise I have made to bring back security and stability have provoked those who work against the Egyptian nation and who do not care about the future." Shafik launched a counterattack apparently against those who deliberately intended to frighten voters of the consequences if Shafik took office. "'Put your trust in Ahmed Shafik'. That was my plea to the voters and I am capable of fulfilling my promise. It is I who will protect and stop devilish plots to turn the country into a bloody zone. Only criminals fear those who seek security. They want you -- Egyptians -- to get a weak president, who I will never be. I'll be a strong president who imposes security and fights crime. I am sure the people want a strong president to serve them, not a weak one." Shafik also expressed full trust in the PEC and appreciation to the efforts exerted by the Armed Forces to conduct fair presidential elections. "I'll respect the results whatever they are as long as the voting process is fair and clean. If the PEC declares the voting is fair and clean I will ask my supporters to respect the result and I am confident they seek stability and that is why they are standing behind me." Shafik indicated that if he won he would apply the law on those who threatened in advance to protest against him. "They can protest as they wish according to the law. Otherwise, the state should show its power to impose order. The situation now is not the same as 25 January 2011. Then, the people wanted to remove the regime. Now the people are voting for the first time to choose their president. No one can stop the people or change their will." Shafik addressed young activists who still see him as an ex-regime member. "If I am destined to be president, you are promised with a bright future. This is my word and I have always been a man of his word. They have been exploited and cheated by 'some' forces which used them to rob all the harvest of their sacrifices. Days passed and they came to discover how they had been deceived. They came out with nothing while others seized all the fruits." Shafik ended the conference, but in five minutes invited the media again for a comment. "I have received reports of violence against our Christian brothers to stop them from voting. This is something the Egyptian nation must go through to differentiate the good and capable from others who only deserve to return where they used to be." Shafik did not go to vote in the early morning as other candidates did. He preferred to make a late entrance, but gave no explanation. "I have toured some polling stations and I intend to continue and later in the day I'll place my vote." Perhaps Shafik wanted to avoid meeting his rival Moussa who is to vote in the same polling station in the New Cairo District where both candidates reside. Shafik headed to his polling station in the afternoon accompanied by a crowd of supporters and reporters. Amirah Ibrahim Amr Moussa "I gave you my vote. What would you do for me and for my children if you become the president of Egypt?" old Shaaban Massoud asked Moussa in the polling station where both cast their ballots. Moussa, 76, arrived at 8.30am at his voting station, in the Fatma Anan School in the affluent Greater Cairo district of New Cairo. His home is about 10 minutes away by car. "Why don't you enter the polling station first, sir? People will understand," said one voter to Moussa. "No thanks. I prefer to be treated like everybody else," Moussa replied. After two hours of standing in a long queue and waiting his turn, Moussa cast his vote. Over 1,000 voters were waiting to cast their ballots in the first presidential election after the outset of the Mubarak regime. Moussa served as secretary-general of the Arab League from 2001 until 2011. Prior to that, he served 10 years as foreign minister. Polls published early this week showed he is a top contender. Working under Hosni Mubarak is seen as an advantage and a liability. In Fatma Anan poll stations, voters remained divided between Moussa and former Muslim Brotherhood member Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh. While he was standing in the queue, Moussa's chances of winning became rampant guesswork. "Why would people elect him? He worked for the Mubarak regime for a decade. I have never seen him saying 'no' to anybody in the ousted regime," said Ammar Khatab, a 28-year-old engineer. Alyaa Mahmoud and her friends who went to vote commented on Moussa's age and health, saying he was too old to stand for two hours in the hot weather. "He is in his 70s. I don't think his health is good. We want a young president." Only a few steps in front of the polling station, a group of young voters hoisted posters of protesters killed in the Maspero incident in October last year, and the clashes near the Interior Ministry in November, and other incidents of violence. "Those young fellows sacrificed their lives to elect a candidate who represents the revolution rather than one who is affiliated with the old regime," one voter said, warning the rest against electing Moussa. Moussa tried to allay their anger by shaking hands with the protesters, promising that if he were elected he will exert "a lot of effort" to hold the people responsible for killing peaceful protesters during and after the revolution accountable. However, other people who wanted a glimpse of Moussa and to vote for him, said they believed he was the perfect man for the job. "Egypt is not an experiment with the presidency," said Mohamed Khamis, a 52-year-old government employee. "I think Moussa is the lesser of the evils." Moussa, who refused to be escorted by his supporters, and arrived with only three men from his entourage, talked to the crowds and the media that followed him, breaking the campaign blackout rule as stipulated by the Presidential Elections Commission (PEC). Moussa told Al-Ahram Weekly that he felt the Egyptian people will make history again and that he would accept whatever outcome the election brings, describing the polls as an important step towards the democratic future of Egypt. "Egyptians should have good judgement in selecting the person who would shape Egypt's future over the next decades," Moussa said. "We are up to the challenge and we will not give up serving Egypt after the election whether I win or lose." Moussa was asked about political groups who say that if he won they would back to Tahrir Square. "The good thing about democracy is that it allows everybody to express freely their opinion, but the ballot box is what decides who will win and who will lose," Moussa told 24-year-old Mohamed Montasser. Mohamed Abdel-Baky Mohamed Mursi The Muslim Brotherhood presidential candidate stood patiently in a long queue yesterday in front of the polling station in his hometown in Sharqiya governorate. Egyptians have grown used to prominent officials standing alongside them in voting queues and having to endure the wait just like ordinary voters, very unlike what used to be the case before the revolution when people had to make way for political luminaries. Mursi spent Tuesday evening in Sharqiya, from where he reviewed the final preparations for voting day in his campaign offices in Cairo and elsewhere in the country. He returned to his Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) campaign offices in Muqattam, where he joined other FJP and Muslim Brotherhood leaders who were keeping tabs on the electoral marathon. The Muslim Brothers are hoping to score a victory that will settle the elections in the first round, a hope that appears unlikely to be fulfilled according to opinion polls and experts. FJP offices were a hive of activity since 7am. FJP and Muslim Brotherhood leaders were doing all in their power to promote Mursi since they announced that he would take the place of Khairat El-Shater who was disqualified from the presidential race. For the past week, right up to the beginning of the "silent period" that all parties are obliged to observe on polling day, Muslim Brotherhood, FJP leaders and campaign workers have been organising, arranging and mobilising. One day last week they organised what they hoped would be the longest ever human chain in support of their candidate, which they believed would go down in the Guinness Book of World Records. On the eve of the silent period, they flexed their numerical muscle by holding 25 mass rallies. The atmosphere on the first day of polling yesterday was filled with the excitement surrounding the Egyptians' exercise of a new democratic entitlement. "Naturally, it was the revolution that paved the way for this democratic wedding celebration which is the last step towards the handover of power to an elected civil authority," said FJP assistant secretary-general Osama Yassin from campaign headquarters. Evidently, the celebration has not been without some hitches. Yassin charged that some privately owned Egyptian satellite television networks had launched a tendentious campaign against the FJP/Muslim Brotherhood candidate. "They have been accusing Mursi supporters of illegitimate practices, but the accusations are totally unfounded. We have fully adhered to the silent period, contrary to the charges that have been levelled against us in some media outlets," Yassin told Al-Ahram Weekly. Ahmed Sebaai, FJP media secretary in Cairo, echoed the allegations. Al-Hayat, a privately owned satellite television network, delivered a live broadcast of a "campaign press conference" by Ahmed Shafik. "Then, in the television stations studio, the programme's guest couched his comments in a way that were clearly intended to drum up votes on behalf of that candidate and this was accompanied by a harsh attack against the Muslim Brotherhood's candidate Mohamed Mursi." FJP campaign coordinator Yasser Ali vowed that legal action would be taken "against this flagrant violation of the minimal level of professional journalistic standards". Many observers predict that Mursi will clear the first round and enter the run-off either against Shafik, a member of the former regime, or Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh. If the former, Islamists can be expected to rally behind Mursi and the balance will most likely tip in his favour if only because they reject any symbol of the former regime. If, on the other hand, the run-off is between Mursi and Abul-Fotouh, a former Muslim Brotherhood member, the competition will probably be neck-and-neck. In this case, observers expect Abul-Fotouh to win because Copts, liberals and a large segment of Salafis will rally behind him in order to prevent the Muslim Brothers from controlling both the executive branch and the legislature. Amani Maged
