CAIRO: Egyptian academic Dr. Gamal Abdel Gawad, director of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies released a survey of Egyptian opinion after the January 25 revolution. The study explained that 61 percent of those living in cities support a civil state, compared to 44 percent of those living in urban areas. 48.5 percent of rural residents support an Islamic state. In a seminar entitled “Egyptians, Politics and Parties,” Dr. Abdel Gawad said 57 percent of urban residents are not ideologically inclined or committed to a political life, compared to 48.3 percent of rural residents. Egyptians were also asked what state they would like to see Egypt resemble. Saudi Arabia was the most quoted model with support from 48.9 of rural Egyptians and 31.5 percent of urban residents. Turkey was a distant second with 11.9 percent of urban residents looking to it as a model, and only 6.5 percent of rural residents looked to Asia Minor for political advice. Social justice was the most important theme, with 40 percent of those surveying placing it as the most salient issue. Second was economic modernization at 34.9 percent, and 16.4 percent responded religion should be the priority. 30 percent of those randomly surveyed want an educated and well-informed politician, while 40 percent prioritized a politician capable of closing the gap between the rich and the poor. For policy priorities, 36 percent selected education, 31.9 percent selected equality between the social classes, 11.8 percent want following the human rights in various fields, and 7.5 percent selected the equality in front of law. Abdel Gawad said that when respondents thought about politics, 52.4 percent thought of the public interest and management of public affairs. Apathy and indifference present a large obstacle for political activists as it represents a significant trend amongst the population, according to the study. 13.3 percent do not pay attention to politics, while 12.7 percent said that politics is “lies and fabrications,” and 8.5 percent said they don't understand it. Political parties were also a subject of the study. The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party came in first place with 32 percent, followed by the Coalition of the Revolution with 16 percent. The Al-Wafd party followed with 14.2 percent, 7.7 percent for The Free Egyptians Party, 6.6 for the Salafis, and 5.2 percent for the Egyptian Social Democratic Party. As for presidential candidates, 43 percent support Amr Moussa was the clear leader amongst the crowd, and Omar Suleiman won a surprising 6.4 percent. Other candidates won similar amounts with Hamdeen Sabbahi winning 5.5 percent, 5.4 percent for Selim al-Awa, and Hazem Ismail claiming 5.1 percent of the votes. Rounding out the bottom was Dr. Mohammdd El-Baradei with 3.9 percent, Abdel Moneim Abou el-Fotouh with 2.4 percent, and Murtada Mansour with 1 percent. The only female candidate in the race, Bothaina Kamel, received a tenth of a percent. Dr. Abdel Gawad presented the research with the reservation that no research is without its problems and the results could change at any time, but said that the sample represented all sectors of society. Polls were taken from the General Authority for Statistics.
