Egypt poll goes ahead following new court ruling

Egypt’s presidential run-off election will go ahead as scheduled today and tomorrow, after a court rejected a law barring one of the candidates – former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq.

On Thursday the Supreme Constitutional Court ruled unconstitutional a political isolation law barring senior officials of the ruling regime of ousted President Hosni Mubarak and top members of his now-dissolved National Democratic Party, from standing for public office for 10 years.

The law applies to those who served in the 10 years prior to Mr Mubarak’s ousting on February 11, 2011 after an 18-day popular uprising.

The court also ruled the whole Islamist-dominated Parliament illegitimate, paving the way for the military to resume legislative powers.

The military council, which took power when Mr Mubarak was ousted, has vowed to cede power to civilian rule after a President is elected.

The uncertain transition has been thrown into further disarray by the ruling which annulled Parliament. The new President’s powers were to have been defined by a constituent assembly appointed by Parliament this week.

Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Moham­med Mursi, who faces Mr Shafiq in the run-off, has pledged that Egypt under his leadership will be inclusive, courting secular and Christian voters. A retiring individual, bearded and bespectacled, Mr Mursi vows to uphold the goals of the revolution that ousted Mr Mubarak and to share power with other parties.

Mr Mursi, who became the Brotherhood’s candidate only after their first choice Khairat al-Shater was disqualified, topped the first round of elections last month with 24.7 per cent of the vote against Mr Shafiq’s 23.6 per cent.

Many had written off Mr Mursi as an uncharismatic substitute, saying he would be unable to muster widespread support. But the powerful Islamist movement mobilised its formidable resources and supporters behind Mr Mursi, who was appointed last year as the head of its political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party.

Mr Shafiq gained support as a candidate in the country’s first post-revolt presidential election thanks to a strong law-and-order campaign in a country where many crave stability.

In the final days of campaigning, the former air force chief accused the powerful Muslim Brotherhood of violence during last year’s uprising and of arson attacks against his campaign headquarters.

He said a victory for the Islamists would bring Egypt “back to the dark ages” but said he was ready to appoint an Islamist vice president.

Mr Shafiq was almost disqualified from the pre­sidential race after the adoption of a law pro­hibiting senior members of the Mubarak era from running, but the decision was reversed at the last minute. Pollsters say Mr Shafiq won sympathy, particularly among female voters, after his wife died last month.