The success of Islamist candidates in the first phase of the parliamentary elections has shattered the hopes of liberals and socialists aiming to win at least 50 percent of seats in parliament.
The Brotherhood and the Salafis together won 40 percent of seats contested in the first phase, prompting commentators to predict that liberals will not be able to mobilize enough voters in the second and third phases to form a balanced parliament.
Many liberals themselves admitted that the next phases would be more difficult.
“The portion won by the liberals was not bad, given that they have no finances,” said journalist Saad Hagras, adding that the funding of the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafis should be investigated.
“They have succeeded in tarnishing the image of the secularists,” Hagras added. “We must explain to the simple majority what secularism really means.
“The liberals should not only talk to the elite, but also to the majority of the people,” he said. “And they must all unite under one coalition.”
Amr Rabie of the Al-Ahram Center for Strategic and Political Studies said the West is concerned about the Islamists. “We must not rely on foreign news papers in assessing the various trends in Egypt,” he said.
Amr Hamzawy of the liberal Egypt Freedom Party said, “We must accept the results, and so must the West. But it is not over yet.”
Hamzawy also said that the next parliament would include a strong liberal bloc to stand up against the Islamist trend. “We have an agenda that promotes a civil state and social justice, while we respect Islamic Sharia law,” he said.
Abdel Aziz al-Nahas of the liberal Wafd Party accused the Islamists of committing violations during the elections. “They were present inside and outside the polling stations to influence the voters,” he said.
Bassel Adel of the liberal Free Egyptians Party said that the liberal discourse does not reach the majority of the population. “A great portion of society is limited in their knowledge and culture,” he said.
“The Islamists use religion to influence the people, while the biggest liberal party, the Wafd Party, has lost credibility,” said Abdel Ghaffar Shokr, president of the Democratic Coalition Party.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
