EgyptVotes

The Muslim Brotherhood's spectacular march into parliament is the result of a mixture of smart politics and well-calculated campaigning - an effort that cost millions and tipped towards the agressive on election days themselves, as  campaigners occupied entrances of polling stations, in a last-minute-effort to conquer each and every vote...

Despite election battles between the Salafis and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB), which included accusations of treason on both sides and violent clashes, supporters of the Salafi Nour Party still celebrated the MB candidate's victory. Certain events during the campaign put the coordination between the two parties to question, especially in light of the strong comeback of liberals.

Despite empty polling stations, another tense and vicious election battle is unfolding in Port Said in the run-off elections between the liberal and left-wing forces on one side and Islamists on the other. The two opponents are labour leader al-Badry Farghaly leading the leftists, who won 87,155 votes in the first round and Ali Fouda, the candidate for the Salafi Nour Party who won 37,716. Any last-minute alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood could swing the result in favour of either candidate.

Mansoura is considered one of the bastions of the semi-urbanised middle class -- something rare in the Delta -- and possesses a historical liberal and leftist presence. In spite of this, Mansoura's main electoral district is preparing for a one-sided battle in the third round of elections, whose hero is the preacher for the Muslim Brotherhood and member of the organization's International Guidance Bureau Sheikh Yusri Hani. In this investigation, our correspondent for EgyptVotes surveys the reasons why his competition has such a slim chance of winning.

Damietta's women, whose name appears lower on electoral lists, face increasing challenges in obtaining a seat in the next parliament. Yet they will play an important role by mobilising votes in the district of Damietta which sees Islamist parties in a fierce competition over two seats.