Despite Gloomy Forecasts, Turnout Rose in Egypt Runoff
Though bloggers had called for sitting out the runoff to protest the poor choice of candidates, and pundits predicted a low voter turnout, Egyptians disagreed, turning out in even greater numbers than they did in the first round of voting, Ahmed Nawar reports. One possible reason: voters found themselves presented with a much clearer choice.
In the same Square in which massive demonstrations toppled former President Hosni Mubarak last year, fireworks, flags and tears came together in equally massive celebrations as Mohamed Morsi was announced the first freely-elected President of Egypt yesterday.
While some rejoiced at the victory of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party candidate, others simply let out loud sighs of relief at Ahmed Shafiq's loss, Mubarak's last prime minister.
Boycotts and Invalidation
A look around Facebook or Twitter in the days leading up to the second round of elections might have left one tempted to believe that no one was going to vote. Campaigns were launched calling for the invalidation of votes and the boycott of the election, since many were frustrated with the choice between two extreme politicians who, in their opinion, were unrepresentative of the revolution. Media sources — both in Egypt and abroad — talked about low enthusiasm, calm streets, the absence of queues and a turnout sharply lower than that in the first round. But what do the numbers tell us?
