Muslim Brotherhood Declares Victory in Egypt Parliamentary Elections
In a statement released Wednesday, the Muslim Brotherhood party announced that it had won 36 of the 56 seats reserved for individuals in Egypt’s parliamentary runoff elections.
The Brotherhood, the largest political party in Egypt, also won the majority of seats in the initial elections last week, with 37 percent of ballots in nine provinces.
Final results from this week’s runoff elections are expected to be announced Thursday.
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Gen. Mukhtar Mulla, a member of Egypt’s current ruling military council, held a press conference Wednesday, announcing that a 100-person council will guide the newly-elected parliament in drafting a new constitution.
“The parliament is not representing all sectors of society,” Mulla said in an attempt to alleviate fears that the Muslim Brotherhood parliament will legislate by Sharia law.
Similarly, on Tuesday Chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Badie assured private television station Al-Mehwar that an Islamic parliament would continue the pursuit of a democratic government.
“There will be reconciliation between the three powers: the parliament, the government and the military ruling council,” said Badie told Al-Mehwar, according to The Associated Press.
“We must live in harmony not only with the military council, but with all of Egypt’s factions, or else the conclusion is zero,” Badie added.
Although these announcements are meant to calm the Egyptian people, critics argue that they further confirm fears of a continued military power.
Since President Hosni Mubarak’s ousting during the Arab Spring uprisings, citizens have demanded the ruling military regime step down from their position as an interim government power.
Critics argue the Muslim Brotherhood could possibly maintain a close relationship to the military.
Fears worsened when the military introduced two supra-constitutional articles earlier this month, exempting the army from parliamentary oversight.
However, leaders of both the Muslim Brotherhood and the military continue to promise democracy.
“We will not rule Egypt alone. Parliament will include all the colors of the rainbow that must agree on one direction, one goal,” Badie told Al-Mehwar Tuesday.
