Untitled - orsam

Investors have so far brushed off leadership worries, with the lure of Egypt's sturdy
growth outweighing uncertainty. (Al Arabiya)
Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, the biggest opposition bloc in the outgoing parliament, said
on Monday it won no seats outright in the first round of a vote it said was rigged, but a
few candidates would stand in a run-off.
The Brotherhood is the main rival of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) and its
candidates run as independents to skirt a ban on religious parties. It was contesting 30
percent of the lower house seats after winning an unprecedented fifth of seats in 2005.
The group said before the vote that it did not expect to repeat its 2005 performance, but
its early estimate, provided before official results expected on Tuesday, suggests a
crushing defeat.
Run-off vote
Analysts had said the government would seek to shove its most vocal critic in parliament
to the sidelines of official politics as it prepares for a presidential election in 2011.
"Only a few will stand in a run-off but not a single Brotherhood candidate won in the first
round," said Saad al-Katatni, the head of the Brotherhood's bloc of 88 seats in the
outgoing parliament, equivalent to a fifth of the assembly.
The run-off vote will be held on Dec. 5.
The NDP always deals heavy defeats to its opponents, but these two-round elections are
being watched for the space given to the government's critics and clues to the NDP's
strategy in a 2011 presidential vote.
Sunday's vote was marred by opposition charges of ballot stuffing, bullying and trickery.
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