Al-Sisi Sweeps to Egyptian Presidency in Light Vote

Having counted almost all of the ballots cast in the Egyptian presidential election, there were no surprises other than the lightness of the turnout. Former military head Abdel-Fatteh Al-Sisi earned 92% of the votes cast, but the 44% voter turnout was a disappointment to those who saw an overwhelming response as evidence of a mandate for the new president. Because of the light turnout balloting had been extended for a third day. The final count is expected to put Al-Sisi at about 90% or more of the vote to less than 5 per cent for his sole opponent, Hamdeem Sabahi. Al-Sisi supporters flocked to Tahrir Square in Cairo to celebrate at the symbolic epicenter of the movement that overthrew Hosni Mubarak after more than  30-years of authoritarian control. The low voter response to Al-Sisi also draws into question the former field marshall's ability to become a force within the Arab world. The Muslim Brotherhood, whose leader, Mohamed Morsi, Al-Sisi toppled from the presidency after he had won the first election after the ouster of Mubarak, boycotted the election and rejected its results. It continues to demand the reinstatement of Morsi.