التاريخ : الأربعاء 14 ديسمبر 2011 . القسم : Media Statements
FJP Press Release No. (20), 2nd Phase, Egypt's Parliamentary Elections 2011-2012
Cairo - Wednesday, December 14, 2011AD – 4:00PM (1400GMT)
The Egyptian people continued turning out in huge numbers to vote in the first day of the second phase of legislative elections, 2011-2012. This tremendous turnout is hailed as a clear sign of the people’s determination to move forward, pursuing the path of democratic transformation with steady feet, over all hurdles and obstacles.
The following is a report on the latest developments of this election day, so far:
First, Voters:
Turnout at polling stations is still heavy, with people pouring in continuously, forming lines that stretch several tens of meters in front of the voting stations.
Second, Legal Issues:
The Legal Committee Observed The Following:
1. The Chairman in charge of polling stations 998 and 999 based at AlSaff Preparatory School for girls, in AlSaff town, forced female voters to vote for electoral lists competing with the Freedom and Justice party (FJP), telling them: "Enough of the Freedom and Justice, they’ve had enough votes!" When the women insisted on voting for the FJP, he added a vote for each of them on other electoral lists to eliminate the effect of that vote.
2. FJP representatives noted that the Chairman in charge of polling station 1005 based at AlSaff Preparatory School for girls, in AlSaff town, Giza, directed female voters to vote for electoral lists of the ‘Egyptian Bloc’ and the ‘Revolution Continues’ ordering them not to vote for the FJP. The party’s Legal Committee reported this to Counsellor Yusri Abdul Karim, head of the technical office of the High Judicial Elections Commission (HJEC), so appropriate action should be taken against him.
3. The FJP's central operations room received a complaint from the people of Atfeih Municipality in Giza governorate stating that representatives of Major-General Abdul-Wahab Khalil, the Wafd Party candidate, closed the doors of AlZeini and Atfeih Primary Schools, preventing voters from casting their ballots, and filling voting cards in favour of the candidate of the Wafd Party. Evidently, this requires urgent action to stop such gross violation of the law.
Third, Media Performance:
Over the past few hours, media voices have grown louder, and spread from private satellite TV channels to national media, especially Egyptian radio and television, urging people to vote for electoral lists that “can balance out the upcoming parliament.” Such calls thinly hide clear and open invitations for people not to vote for candidate lists of the FJP, which is contrary to the principle of equality, for which all the Egyptian people rose in protest in the January 25 Revolution. Such media talk is certainly unacceptable interference in directing the will and the votes of the electorate.
Furthermore, the FJP emphasised that Egypt suffered, for so many years, oppressive regimes directing the will and the votes of the electorate, which must not be repeated yet again under such unfounded pretexts of not. The new parliament should reflect the Egyptian people’s free will. Whatever the representation proportions in that parliament, the crucial issues this country faces must be resolved with the full participation of all the Egyptian people, those who have parliamentary majority and who have a smaller share. The making and shaping of this homeland’s future cannot be achieved single-handedly by one party or another.