WATANI International
28 November 2010
Today Egyptian voters nationwide head to the ballot boxes to choose 444 persons and 64 women to represent them on the People’s Assembly, the lower house of Egypt’s Parliament. The women will be elected on the women’s quota, a positive discrimination move implemented for the first time this year to promote women as MPs. Some 5120 candidates, including 132 women are contesting the elections, fielded by more than 14 parties and independents. There are some 72 Coptic independent candidates and another 40 on party lists. The Muslim Brotherhood, which is a legally banned movement, is fielding its candidates as independents. Only three parties are boycotting the elections; the others have decided that “participation is more fruitful than a boycott.” The day is an official holiday to give voters the opportunity to go to the ballots. Vote counting will be conducted in clubs and public venues, and some 3000 judges and prosecutors will supervise the balloting.