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               Egypt Parliamentary Poll Expected to Bolster Sissi

   by Heather Murdock

   Egypt wrapped up its parliamentary election Wednesday, and results are
   expected to show a win for supporters of President Abdel Fattah
   el-Sissi.  Some analysts, however, say widespread low turnout, reports
   of vote buying and other irregularities could later be used as reasons
   to dissolve the lawmaking body.

   Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was not running for anything
   in this election, but he is expected to emerge the winner, with a body
   of legislators who will support him and the roughly 200 laws he has
   passed by decree.

   Despite low turnout, election workers say they are excited because the
   country has been without a parliament for about three years.

   "I love my homeland. I love Egypt. I hope the right candidate will win.
   I hope all the candidates will win, including myself," said Jihan
   Saeed, an election worker in the capital, Cairo.

   ''
   Some observers said Egypt's elections were marred by vote buying,
   officials directing voters as well as marked by turnout that appeared
   to be the lowest since before the 2011 ouster of Hosni Mubarak.

   "Some of the candidates are trying to win votes with bribes, and it is
   changing which candidates they are voting for," said lawyer Sameh
   Eldeep.

   Other observers said vote buying in Egypt is so common these days, it
   functions like a large business.

   "Buying votes has become like the stock market.  The morning opens with
   one price and in the afternoon it's a higher price.  The highest prices
   are just before the polling stations close," said Essam Azmy, an
   election monitor.

   Egypt's last parliament was dissolved in 2012 and observers say the
   irregularities at the polls could later be used to break up the nearly
   600-member body.

   The incoming parliament is the first elected since the adoption last
   year of a new constitution that empowers lawmakers to impeach a
   president or call for early elections.

   The new parliament is expected to start work next month.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/egypt-parliamentary-election-expected
   -to-bolster-sissi/3086507.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/egypt-parliamentary-election-expected-to-bolster-sissi/3086507.html