ASSESSMENTS

Obstacles for Egypt's Islamists After Elections

Jan 13, 2012 | 13:08 GMT

An Egyptian voter at a polling station in Cairo on Jan. 10

KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images

Summary

Egypt's political factions are awaiting the results of the third round of lower house parliamentary elections, which are very likely to confirm that the country's two main Islamist parties, the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) and the Salafist al-Nour party, have placed first and second in the voting and have a combined majority of seats. However, while the two Islamist parties will likely emerge from the elections governing Egypt, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) still rules the country, and tensions persist between the political proxies of the Brotherhood and the Salafists. The FJP thus will need to balance the interests of the SCAF, the Salafists and Egyptian voters if it is to remain effective during the formation of the country's new government.

The Muslim Brotherhood-backed Freedom and Justice Party will likely emerge from the elections governing Egypt....

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