Early results show Egypt's islamist parties sweep to victory

Islamist parties, including hardline Salafists, have swept to victory in early results from Egypt's first post-revolution election. Partial figures for the areas of the country that voted in record numbers on Monday and Tuesday, confirm earlier predictions that Islamist parties would win at least two thirds of the ballots cast. 

Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

In Port Said, the moderate Islamist alliance led by the previously banned Muslim Brotherhood won 32.5 per cent of votes for parties, while the hardline Al-Nur party gained 20.7 per cent, according to the state-owned Al-Ahram daily.

The liberal Wafd party won 14 per cent, while another Islamist party Al-Wassat, which advocates a strict interpretation of Islamic law, recorded 12.9 per cent.

In the southern Red Sea district, the Brotherhood's alliance won 30 per cent, while secular coalition the Egyptian Bloc came in second with 15 per cent.

Full results were initially meant to have been published on Wednesday but have been delayed several times.

There was little cause for celebration for the liberal secular movement which played a key role in the overthrow of the 30-year rule of Hosni Mubarak in February after an 18-day uprising.

It has since splintered and has been overtaken by the more organised Brotherhood, well known to Egyptians as a result of its decades of opposition to the Mubarak regime and its extensive charitable and social work.

This week’s vote was the opening phase of a parliamentary election that is taking place in three stages.

For the lower house of parliament, the rest of the country will vote in a further two stages later this month and in January. An upper house will then be elected in another three stages.