Egypt's NDP wins 92% of votes

2008-04-16 12:10

Cairo - Egypt's ruling party has won 92% of the votes in municipal elections boycotted by the main opposition group, the Muslim Brotherhood, says a security official.

"After calculating the results handed in from the individual municipalities, we can say the ruling party has won 92% of votes and eight percent went to opposition and independent candidates," the official said.

There were no official turnout figures, but many polling stations were empty on April 08, with the victory of the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) never in doubt after the disqualification of many opposition candidates.

The NDP had fielded a candidate for every one of the 52 000 council seats up for grabs.

The elections gained an unprecedented importance after a 2005 constitutional amendment requiring independent presidential candidates to secure the backing of councillors.

Those not belonging to political parties, including the banned Muslim Brotherhood whose members sat in parliament as independents, needed the support of at least 10 local councillors in at least 14 provinces to stand.

The next presidential election was set for 2011.

- AFP