- Title: EGYPT: Large numbers of women turn out on the second day of Egypt voting
- Date: 30th November 2011
- Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (NOVEMBER 29, 2011) (REUTERS) SOLDIERS, POLICE AND WOMEN VOTERS WAITING OUTSIDE POLLING STATION WOMEN VOTERS WAITING IN LINES POSTER FOR FEMALE PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE GAMEELA ISMAIL WOMAN SEATED ON STOOL IN LINE MORE OF WOMEN WAITING TO VOTE (SOUNDBITE) (English) LOCAL RESIDENT AND VOLUNTEER HELPING TO ORGANIZE POLLING STATION, RAWYA GAMAL, SAYING: "I think it's an important step. And to see so many women just walk out and just stand for seven and eight hours and determined they are not going to leave, they are going to vote, because the longer they stayed, and the more problems we had inside, the more determined people were to stay and vote. And that, I think, that's just fantastic. And I was talking to one of the police men, and he said in 13 years of monitoring sort of all these like elections, he's never seen so many women." WOMAN HOLDING HER CHILD AT POLLING STATION U.S. CONGRESSMAN, DAVID DREIER, TALKING TO VOTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. CONGRESSMAN, DAVID DREIER, SAYING: "By the way, just being here has buoyed me tremendously. And given me a renewed appreciation for this franchise to vote, which - as an American, I take it for granted. And I will no longer." SOLDIERS AND ARMY IN FRONT OF POLLING STATION GROUP OF MAINLY FEMALE VOTERS WAITING IN LINE
- Embargoed: 15th December 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Egypt, Egypt
- Country: Egypt
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAE53MXTC0WSMM7A5OYNXDY5P6O
- Story Text: There were long lines outside polling stations in Cairo on Tuesday (November 29) morning, the second day of parliamentary elections that have so far been largely peaceful, despite fears of violence after a week of riots in which 42 people were killed.
Large numbers of women turned out to vote in the upscale Cairo neighbourhood of Zamalek and local volunteer Rawya Gamal said many had shown extraordinary determination to cast their ballots.
"I think it's an important step. And to see so many women just walk out and just stand for seven and eight hours and determined they are not going to leave, they are going to vote, because the longer they stayed, and the more problems we had inside, the more determined people were to stay and vote. And that, I think, that's just fantastic. And I was talking to one of the police men, and he said in 13 years of monitoring sort of all these like elections, he's never seen so many women," she said.
The elections are expected to sweep Islamist parties into the legislature, but it is unclear how much power the ruling military council will devolve to the new parliament.
The military will retain executive power for now, but the election will resuscitate a parliament that had acted as no more than a rubber stamp for Mubarak, who choked political life during his 30-year tenure.
The peaceful voting was a happy outcome after a week of clashes between police and demonstrators seeking an end to military rule turned central Cairo into a battleground resembling the scenes during the uprising against Mubarak.
International observers have been allowed to observe the elections.
Visiting U.S. Congressman David Dreier said witnessing the process in Egypt made him value the right to vote.
"By the way, just being here has buoyed me tremendously. And given me a renewed appreciation for this franchise to vote, which - as an American, I take it for granted. And I will no longer."
The Muslim Brotherhood's party and other Islamists expect to do well in the parliamentary election, but the outcome is difficult to predict under a complex and unfamiliar voting system of party lists and individual candidates. Voting will be staggered over the next six weeks. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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