During visits to polling stations on Wednesday, military ruler Hussein Tantawi found himself in a few awkward situations with voters.
At Khulafaa al-Rashedeen School in Heliopolis, a number of women chanted "Down with the military rule" upon his arrival, to which Tantawi responded with a smile.
At Agha Military School polling station in Bab al-Shareya, Amm Mohamed was surprised to find Tantawi walking around the school.
When the field marshal passed by, Mohamed sprang from his chair.
"You are better than Hosni Mubarak, who did not shake hands with people," he said. "May God help you protect the whole country."
Ignoring the comparison to the former president, Tantawi asked the man who he would vote for.
"Let me keep my vote secret," Mohamed said.
"Whisper it into my ear, then," Tantawi responded.
"I cannot tell you who I will pick," Mohamed returned, standing firm. "I just hope I'll be able to go to Beni Suef to vote."
Tantawi also spoke with Mahrous Abdel Aziz while the latter waited in line to vote. The people love the military and it should receive medals from the entire nation, Abdel Aziz said he told Tantawi, who then asked him who he would vote for.
"I will vote for a statesman who belongs to the military institution," Abdel Aziz said.
"God be with you," Tantawi answered.
Tantawi was accompanied by Hamdy Badeen, head of the military police, as he toured the polling stations. The field marshal shook hands with several citizens who chanted "The people and the army are one hand."
Anti-military sentiment has risen over the past year in response to military crackdowns on protesters and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces’ leadership of the country. Thousands of activists from across the political spectrum have staged protests against SCAF rule, demanding a swift handover of power and the halt of military trials for civilians.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
