Victories by liberal candidates in parliamentary election run-offs this week have given them home that they might be able to create a balanced parliament, according to some experts.
Experts have also suggested that Salafi candidates did not do so well in the run-offs due to various extremist statements made recently by Salafi figures.
“I believe the Islamists will not sweep to power in the coming phases,” said George Isaac of the National Association for Change.
Wahid Abdel Meguid of the Democratic Coalition, said certain liberal candidates had won seats with the support of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“It is not only a competition between liberals and Islamists,” he said. “There is competition within each party, as well.”
“The Salafis clearly said they are against a civil state,” said Nabil Abdel Fattah of the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies. “That is why they did not do well in the run-offs.”
Translated from the Arabic Edition
