Second phase of Egypt elections begins in 13 regions
What you need to know:
Polling for the two-day second phase opened at 9am across 13 provinces, including in Cairo, with few voters seen trickling in to cast their ballots.
The first round of the election was held across 14 of the country’s 27 provinces on October 18 and 19, and produced a turnout of 26.6 per cent.
The turnout for the run-off days later was just 21.7 per cent.
Egypt’s last general election was held in 2011.
CAIRO, Sunday
Egyptians began voting across 13 of the country’s 27 provinces in the second phase of parliamentary elections after a low turnout marred the first stage in the absence of strong opposition.
The election is expected to elect lawmakers who firmly back President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has crushed all forms of dissent since ousting Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
Polling for the two-day second phase opened at 9am across 13 provinces, including in Cairo, with few voters seen trickling in to cast their ballots.
Only a dozen voters waited at three polling stations in the capital’s central district of Shubra.
The first round of the election was held across 14 of the country’s 27 provinces on October 18 and 19, and produced a turnout of 26.6 per cent.
The turnout for the run-off days later was just 21.7 per cent.
If necessary, the second phase will also have a run-off on December 1-2.
A run-off is held after the initial voting fails to produce a winner with a clear majority.
Analysts expect voting to be low, given the disinterest among voters who expect the 596-member house to rubber-stamp Sisi’s decisions.
Sisi remains popular to many Egyptians tired of years of political turmoil triggered by the 2011 ouster of longtime strongman Hosni Mubarak.
Egypt’s last general election was held in 2011.
