2012 Egyptian presidential election: Difference between revisions

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{{Politics of Egypt}}
 
A '''presidential election''' was held in [[Egypt]] in two rounds, the first on 23 and 24 May 2012 and the second on 16 and 17 June. The [[Muslim Brotherhood]] declared early 18 June 2012, that its candidate, [[Mohamed Morsi]], won Egypt's presidential election, which would be the first victory of an [[Islamist]] as head of state in the [[Arab world]].<ref>{{cite news|last=El Deeb and Keath|first=Sarah and Lee|title=Islamist claims victory in Egypt president vote|url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/ML_EGYPT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-06-17-23-11-03|work=Associated Press|accessdate=18 June 2012}}</ref> It was the second presidential election in Egypt's history with more than one candidate, following the [[2005 Egyptian presidential election|2005 election]], and the first presidential election after the [[2011 Egyptian revolution]] which ousted president [[Hosni Mubarak]], during the [[Arab Spring]]. MorsiHowever, howeverMorsi's presidency was brief and short-lived, lastedand littlehe overlater faced [[June 2013 Egyptian protests|massive protests against his rule]] a year beforelater hein wasJune ousted2013, inonly ato be successfully [[2013 Egyptian coup d'état|militaryremoved coupfrom office]] in July 2013that year.
 
In the first round, with a voter turnout of 46%, the results were split between five major candidates: Mohamed Morsi (25%), [[Ahmed Shafik]] (24%), [[Hamdeen Sabahi]] (21%), [[Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh]] (17%), and [[Amr Moussa]] (11%), while the remaining 2% were split between several smaller candidates. The elections set the stage for the divisions that were to follow, along sharia and secular lines, and those opposed to and those supporting the former political elite. Islamist candidates Morsi and Fotouh won roughly 42% of the vote, while the remaining three secular candidates won 56% of the vote. Candidates Shafik and Moussa held positions under the Mubarak regime and won 35% of the vote, while Sabahi was a prominent dissident during the Sadat and Mubarak regimes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mursi-Shafiq presidential showdown puts Egypt revolutionaries in pickle|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/42896/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/MursiShafiq-presidential-showdown-puts-Egypt-revol.aspx}}</ref>
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==Rules==
The rules for the election were released on 30 January 2012. Candidates had to be born in Egypt to [[Egyptian nationality law|Egyptian parents]], may not have held dual nationality and may not have been married to a foreigner. To be nominated, they required the support of 30 Members of Parliament or 30,000 voters.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16785829 |work=BBC News | title=Egypt sets presidential election rules | date=30 January 2012}}</ref> According to the electoral committee, the formal registration process for candidates started on 10 March<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/33870/Egypt/Politics-/Official-Presidential-candidacy-registration-proce.aspx |title=Official: Presidential candidacy registration process to begin 10 March |publisher=Ahram Online |date=6 February 2012 |accessdate=11 May 2012}}</ref> and ended on 8 April 2012 at 2&nbsp;pm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.elections.eg/images/docs/Schedule.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=8 April 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20120425030248/https://www.elections.eg/images/docs/Schedule.pdf |archivedate=25 April 2012 }}</ref>
 
== Qualified candidates ==
{{prose|section|date=May 2012}}
[[File:Egypt ballot Paper, first round 2012.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Ballot Paper, First round]]
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On 14 April 2012, the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) announced the disqualification of ten candidates: [[Omar Suleiman]], [[Khairat El-Shater]], [[Hazem Salah Abu Ismail]], [[Ayman Nour]], Ahmad Awad Al-Saidi, [[Mortada Mansour]], Ibrahim El-Gharib, Mamdouh Qutb, Houssam Khayrat, and Ashraf Barouma.<ref>{{cite news|last=Tarek|first=Sherif|title=Eliminated presidential contenders to appeal disqualification decision|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/39326/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/Eliminated-presidential-contenders-to-appeal-disqu.aspx|newspaper=ahramonline|date=15 April 2012}}</ref> Reasons for the disqualifications were not given, but the affected candidates were given 48 hours to appeal the decisions. Abu Ismail, El-Shater, and Suleiman's campaigns stated they would file appeals.<ref>{{cite news|title=Egypt bars 10 candidates from election|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/2012414185229419379.html|newspaper=Al-Jazeera}}</ref> All appeals were rejected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17748256 |title=Egypt presidential poll bans on candidates upheld |publisher=BBC News |date=17 April 2012 |accessdate=11 May 2012}}</ref>
 
On 23 April, the [[Supreme Council of the Armed Forces|SCAF]] ratified the Corruption of Political Life Law (aka the Disenfranchisement Law),<ref>{{cite news|title=Egypt's SCAF approves bill to bar ex-regime figures politically|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-04/24/c_131548586.htm|newspaper=xinhua|date=24 April 2012}}</ref> which was passed by the People's Assembly on 12 April.<ref>{{cite news|title=مجلس الشعب يوافق علي منع ترشح رموز نظام مبارك للانتخابات الرئاسية والحكومة تؤكد عدم دستورية القانون|url=http://www.ahram.org.eg/867/2012/04/12/61/143107/219.aspx|newspaper=Al Ahram|date=13 April 2012|access-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716233023/http://www.ahram.org.eg/867/2012/04/12/61/143107/219.aspx|archive-date=16 July 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The new law stipulated that any individual who served as President of the Republic, vice president, prime minister, or a high-ranking [[National Democratic Party (Egypt)|NDP]] official during the ten years prior to 11 February 2011 (day of [[Hosni Mubarak]]'s resignation) would not be eligible to run or hold public office for ten years, effective 11 February 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=العسكرى" يطلق"عزل الفلول".. وشفيق ينتظر "الكارت الأحمر|url=http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article2.aspx?ArticleID=336218|newspaper=almasry-alyoum|date=25 April 2012|access-date=25 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426234530/http://www.almasry-alyoum.com/article2.aspx?ArticleID=336218|archive-date=26 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> The law disqualified presidential hopefuls Ahmed Shafik (prime minister) and Omar Suleiman (vice-president), but did not exclude Amr Mussa.<ref>{{cite news|title=Egypt poll organisers bar last Mubarak-era PM|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jmUOTzWTUISAugjSQ-FOMx8F4nCw?docId=CNG.a667c2f5c2ae88920e6404e109ae6992.751|agency=AFP|date=24 April 2012}}</ref>
 
On 25 April the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commission (SPEC) accepted the appeal filed by [[Ahmed Shafik]] against its previous decision to exclude him from running for president.<ref name=Shafiq_back_in_race>{{cite news|title=Mubarak-era PM Shafik back in presidential race|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/40189/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/BREAKING-Mubarakera-PM-Shafiq-back-in-presidential.aspx|newspaper=Ahram Online|date=25 April 2012}}</ref> Therefore, a total of 13 candidates were left standing in SPEC's final list.<ref>{{cite news|last=Essam El-Din|first=Gamal|title=Egypt's presidential countdown begins|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/40237/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/Egypts-presidential-countdown-begins.aspx|newspaper=Ahram Online|date=26 April 2012}}</ref> The appeal also requested the new Parliamentary law be brought before the Supreme Constitutional Court to determine its constitutionality.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shafiq appeals exclusion decision before Presidential Elections Commission|url=http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/shafiq-appeals-exclusion-decision-presidential-elections-commission|newspaper=Egypt Independent|date=25 April 2012|access-date=26 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430082342/http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/shafiq-appeals-exclusion-decision-presidential-elections-commission|archive-date=30 April 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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===Hamdeen Sabahi===
[[Hamdeen Sabahi]], the leader of the [[Gamal Abdel Nasser|Nasser]]ist [[Dignity Party (Egypt)|Dignity Party]] officially filed his application on 6 April 2012.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/1/38630/Egypt/Hamdeen-Sabbahi,-hundreds-of-supporters-officially.aspx |title=Hamdeen Sabbahi, hundreds of supporters officially file for presidential candidacy |newspaper=Ahram Online |date=6 April 2012}}</ref> Two years later, Sabahi later ran for presidency in the [[2014 Egyptian presidential election|2014 presidential election]] against [[Abdel Fattah el-Sisi]], although the latter won a [[landslide victory]] in that election.
 
===Minor candidates===
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==Disqualified candidates==
 
===Main disqualified candidates===
<!-- Candidates in alphabetical order -->
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On 11 April, the State Council decided that the Ministry of Interior is obliged to provide documents verifying the nationality of the candidate's mother.<ref name="ahram2"/> Thus, he would fail the premise that candidates, their spouses and their parents must hold ''exclusive'' Egyptian citizenship.<ref>{{Citation |title=Egypt's foreign ministry says Abu-Ismail's mother held US citizenship |newspaper=Ahram Online |date=7 April 2012 |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/38714/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/Egypts-foreign-ministry-says-AbuIsmails-mother-hel.aspx}}</ref> Abu Ismail denies the ministry's assertion and insists that his mother was exclusively Egyptian.<ref name="ahram3">{{cite web|last=Tarek |first=Sherif |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/38879/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/AbuIsmail-The-battle-continues.aspx |title=Abu-Ismail: The battle continues |publisher=Ahram Online |date=9 April 2012 |accessdate=11 May 2012}}</ref> The threat to Abu Ismail's candidacy has triggered protests by his supporters.<ref name="ahram3"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/38942/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/AbuIsmail-supporters-protest-outside-court-to-salv.aspx |title=Abu-Ismail supporters protest outside court to salvage presidential bid |publisher=Ahram Online |date=10 April 2012 |accessdate=11 May 2012}}</ref>
 
As of 14 April 2012, Abu-Ismail hashad been barred from the election by the Presidential Election Commission. He hashad been given 48 hours to appeal the decision.<ref name="aljazeera1">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2012/04/2012414185229419379.html |title=Egypt bars 10 candidates from election |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=15 April 2012 |accessdate=11 May 2012}}</ref>
 
===Ayman Nour===
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==Withdrawn candidates==
 
===Mohamed ElBaradei===
In November 2009 amidst the political controversy over the then prospective 2011 presidential election and the constitutional impediments placed in the faces of candidates under the amended Article 76 in the 2007 constitution and amidst speculation about then-president Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal running for the post, [[Mohamed ElBaradei]] decided to respond to the continuous pressing from people who asked him to run for the 2011 election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=204908 |title=Egyptian opposition wants ElBaradei to run for president |work=Tehran Times|date=8 October 2009 |accessdate=31 January 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C10%5C07%5Cstory_7-10-2009_pg4_7 |title=Leading News Resource of Pakistan |work=Daily Times|date=7 October 2009 |accessdate=31 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513155609/http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C10%5C07%5Cstory_7-10-2009_pg4_7 |archivedate=13 May 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Earth Times Staff |url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/291035,arab-league-chief-refuses-to-rule-out-egypt-presidential-bid.html |title=Arab League chief refuses to rule out Egypt presidential bid |publisher=Earth Times News |date=20 October 2009 |accessdate=31 January 2011}}</ref> ElBaradei said in a statement sent from his office in Vienna to ''Al-Shorouk'' newspaper that "He did not announce willingness or unwillingness to participate in the upcoming presidential election... and that he will clear his position on the presidency after November".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shorouknews.com/ContentData.aspx?id=136398 |title=ElBaradei will clear his position on the presidency after November |publisher=Shorouknews.com |accessdate=31 January 2011}}</ref> His office manager added: {{Quotation|Dr. ElBaradei is the Director General of [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] until the end of November. Therefore, he is currently devoted to his work and to address the important issues and topics that need to be addressed by the IAEA. So he did not take any decision regarding his future which will be decided in light of developments of the next phase.}}
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On 24 February 2010, ElBaradei met with several opposition leaders and notable intellects at his home in [[Cairo]]. The meeting was concluded with an announcement for the formation of a new non-party-political movement called "[[National Association for Change]]". The movement aims for general reforms in the political scene and mainly burke the Constitutional article#76 which places restrictions on true free presidential elections especially when it comes to independent candidates. Worth mentioning is that the banned political group the [[Muslim Brotherhood]] were represented by one of their key figures who attended the meeting however their stand in accepting a non-member of their group as a candidate is yet unclear. It is also unknown whether [[Amr Moussa]] the head of the [[Arab League]] who met with Elbaradei a day earlier will be part of the new movement.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8534365.stm |title=ElBaradei to form 'national association for change' |publisher=BBC News |date=24 February 2010 |accessdate=31 January 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110127064617/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8534365.stm |archivedate=27 January 2011 }}</ref>
 
On 14 January 2012, he withdrew his candidacy in protest against the [[Supreme Council of the Armed Forces]]' alleged usurpation of power as he criticised the road maproadmap of transition to a civilian government following the 2011 revolution.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16561273 |work=BBC News |title=Mohamed ElBaradei will end Egypt presidency bid |date=14 January 2012}}</ref> ElBaradei called it a "travesty" to elect a president before a new constitution has been drafted.<ref>{{Citation |title=ElBaradei: Egypt current roadmap to civilian govt is a travesty |work=Egypt.com |date=18 February 2012 |url=http://news.egypt.com/english/permalink/85501.html}}</ref>
 
===AbdElazim Negm===
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==Fairness==
{{Expand section|date=April 2016}}
Allegations have arisen that the interior ministry handed out over 900,000 ID cards to Egyptian soldiers so that they could vote for Shafik in the first round, which would be a major campaign violation. Sabahi asked for the Egyptian election to be temporarily suspended until an investigation was carried out.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--[if IE 6]> <![endif]--> |url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/05/26/216677.html |title=Egypt’s third runner-up seeks election suspension: lawyer |publisher=English.alarabiya.net |date=26 May 2012 |accessdate=26 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621015324/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2012/05/26/216677.html |archive-date=21 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
In August 2013, former Israeli negotiator [[Yossi Beilin]] wrote that an Egyptian official had told him that the true results had Shafik winning, but the military gave the presidency to Morsi out of fear of unrest.<ref>{{cite web|title='Morsi didn't win the elections'|url=http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_opinion.php?id=5395|work=[[Israel Hayom]]|author=[[Yossi Beilin]]|date=18 August 2013}}</ref>
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- '''Article 38''' will be replaced with: "The parliamentary elections will be conducted in accordance to the law."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/45350/Egypt/Politics-/URGENT-English-text-of-SCAF-amended-Egypt-Constitu.aspx |title=English text of SCAF amended Egypt Constitutional Declaration – Politics – Egypt – Ahram Online |publisher=English.ahram.org.eg |accessdate=26 December 2012}}</ref>
 
== See also ==
* [[Democracy in the Middle East]]
* [[President of Egypt]]
 
==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
 
== Further reading ==
* {{cite journal |last=El-Khawas |first=Mohamed |year=2012 |title=Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution |journal=Mediterranean Quarterly |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=52–66 |doi=10.1215/10474552-1540693 }}
 
*{{cite news |last=Martini |first=Jeff |date=19 April 2012 |title=Cairo's Candidate Shuffle: Fewer Contenders, Same Policies |work=[[Foreign Affairs]] |url=http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/137513/jeff-martini/cairos-candidate-shuffle }}
* {{cite journal |last=El-Khawas |first=Mohamed |year=2012 |title=Egypt’s Unfinished Revolution |journal=Mediterranean Quarterly |volume=23 |issue=1 |pages=52–66 |doi=10.1215/10474552-1540693 }}
* {{cite news |last=MartiniSamaan |first=JeffMagdy |date=199 AprilMay 2012 |title=Cairo'sVox Candidate ShufflePop: FewerEgyptians Contenders,Prepare Sameto PoliciesChoose a President |work=[[Foreign AffairsPolicy]] |url=httphttps://www.foreignaffairsforeignpolicy.com/articles/1375132012/05/jeff-martini09/cairos-candidate-shufflevox_pop_egyptians_prepare_to_choose_a_president }}
* {{cite news |last=Samaan |first=Magdy |date=9 May 2012 |title=Vox Pop: Egyptians Prepare to Choose a President |work=[[Foreign Policy]] |url=https://foreignpolicy.com/articles/2012/05/09/vox_pop_egyptians_prepare_to_choose_a_president }}
 
== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120725043143/http://www.aucegypt.edu/GAPP/CairoReview/Pages/articleDetails.aspx?aid=162 Candidates in the 2012 Egyptian Presidential Election] – [[American University in Cairo]]
* [http://www.elections.eg/ The official website of Supreme Committee for Presidential Elections]
* [http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/05/egypt_leaders.html/ Future Leaders of Egypt Bios on the Center for American Progress]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111116034051/http://egypt.jadaliyya.com/ Egypt Elections Watch] – [[Jadaliyya]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120529054156/http://egyptelectsblog.com/ Egypt Elects]
* [http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/41802/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/Egypts-presidential-favourites-Where-they-stand,-i.aspx Egypt's presidential favourites: Where they stand, issue by issue]
* [http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/36418/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/Ahram-Online-presents-The-Idiots-Guide-to-Egypt%E2%80%99s-.aspx Guide to Egypt’s presidential elections 2012]
* [https://www.theguardian.com/world/middle-east-live/2012/may/24/egypt-election-day-2-live Egyptian presidential election, 2012 coverage at ''The Guardian'']
* Joseph Mayton [http://en.qantara.de/From-Outlier-to-Serious-Contender/19143c20191i1p497/index.html "Egyptian Presidential Candidate Hamdeen Sabahi: From Outlier to Serious Contender,"] Qantara.de (22 May 2012).
* [http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/36/122/43085/Presidential-elections-/Presidential-elections-news/Presidential-finalists-Mursi-vs-Shafiq-Where-they-.aspx Presidential finalists Mursi vs Shafiq: Where they stand, issue by issue]
 
{{Egyptian elections}}