EGYPT: President hopeful and considered among the front runners, Amr Moussa queues to cast his vote during Egypt's presidential election

Record ID: 864079

  • Title: EGYPT: President hopeful and considered among the front runners, Amr Moussa queues to cast his vote during Egypt's presidential election
  • Date: 24th May 2012
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (MAY 23, 2012) (REUTERS) CLASSROOM BEING USED A POLLING STATION MAN VOTING CLOSE OF BALLOT BOX VARIOUS OF MAN IN WHEEL CHAIR VOTING VARIOUS OF AMR MOUSSA, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE QUEUING AMR MOUSSA ENTERS TO CAST HIS VOTE AMR MOUSSA'S NAME ON PAPER SHOWING REGISTERED VOTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AMR MOUSSA SAYING: "God willing democracy will bring Egypt a president who the majority has voted for and we start rebuilding Egypt, God willing, on the first day of the forming of the republic" VARIOUS OF AMR MOUSSA LEAVING AFTER VOTING AMR MOUSSA FLASHING V FOR VICTORY SIGN PEOPLE CROWDING NEAR AMR MOUSSA MORE OF MOUSSA WAVING AND GETTING INTO CAR
  • Embargoed: 8th June 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • City:
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAERNHBCEWVH6T17XB9K9FWJB2B
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  • Story Text: Presidential hopeful, Amr Moussa cast his vote in Cairo's Fatama Anana School, on Wednesday (May 23).
    The presidential candidate and former foreign minister and Arab League secretary general told reporters that he hopes democracy will bring about a president that represents the majority in Egypt.
    "God willing democracy will bring Egypt a president who the majority has voted for and we start rebuilding Egypt, God willing, on the first day of the forming of the republic," Moussa said.
    Moussa waved and flashed V-for victory sign before getting into his car and driving away.
    Egyptians began voting freely on Wednesday for the first time to pick their president in a wide open election that pits Islamists against men who served under deposed leader Hosni Mubarak.
    The contest is a novelty for a nation where elections during the 30-year rule of a man some called "Pharaoh" were thinly attended rigmaroles in which the result was a foregone conclusion.
    Although official campaigning was over, candidates made a final push to get out the vote. Half a dozen minibuses plastered with "Yes to Amr Moussa" - the former Arab League chief bidding for office - offered free rides to polling stations.
    None of the 12 candidates is expected to get more than half the votes and win outright in the first round on Wednesday and Thursday, and a run-off between the top two is likely in June.
    It is the first time that ordinary Egyptians, ruled down the centuries by pharaohs, sultans, kings and military officers, have a genuine chance to choose their leader.
    Whoever wins faces a huge task to deliver changes that Egyptians expect to relieve a grim economic outlook. The military that was a pillar of Mubarak's rule is likely to remain a powerful political force for years.
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