Egypt

Weak voter participation in Qasr al-Nil

Cairo’s third constituency of Qasr al-Nil witnessed weak participation in all polling stations except for Bulaq Abu al-Ela, Fathia Bahig and Mostafa Kamil in Abdeen.

Polling stations were open at 8 am. At the stations, candidates distributed leaflets against Wafd Party and Egyptian Bloc candidates. One such leaflet said, “We are ahead of a crisis if the liberals and the seculars take control of our world. Be careful of those who do not understand or apply your religion.” Another printout warned to be careful of National Democratic Party (NDP) “stooges” inside the Wafd and Egyptian Bloc parties, and urges citizens to vote for those who would lead them to heaven.

Moski and Bulaq polling stations witnessed weak participation on the second day of the elections amid the presence of security personnel and Islamist candidates.

The polling stations were calm and no violations were reported, said Mohamed Ismail, a Muslim Brotherhood representative in Bulaq. Former NDP members continued campaigning inside polling stations, even after the military police intervened to stop them, he added.

Engineer Amr Khidr, a candidate for the Freedom and Justice Party, accused Egyptian Bloc candidates of inciting protests against Islamists outside polling stations in Zamalek, one of Cairo’s richest neighborhoods.

Khidr said candidates distributed blankets, meat and money outside polling stations in Bulaq, Abdeen and Zamalek.

Translated from the Arabic Edition

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