Egypt's Brotherhood: Constitution Passed With 64%

Official results due tomorrow as opposition claims irregularities
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 23, 2012 5:47 AM CST
Egypt's Brotherhood: Constitution Passed With 64%
An Egyptian election worker controls a ballot box at a polling station in Giza, Egypt, Saturday, Dec. 22, 2012.   (Nasser Nasser)

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood claimed today that the Islamist-backed constitution has passed with a 64% "yes" vote, the day after the final voting in a two-round referendum that deeply divided the country. The constitution's critics, however, may contest the outcome. "We are questioning the results," said the spokesman for the National Salvation Front, citing "a lot" of irregularities. "We don't think the results reflect the true desires of the Egyptian people."

Egypt's election commission is expected to announce the final official tally tomorrow. The passage of the constitution would be a victory for Islamist President Mohamed Morsi. But the comparatively low turnout of 32% of eligible voters, as well as allegations of voting violations, threatened to undermine the constitution's legitimacy and keep Egypt polarized. According to the Brotherhood tally, around 64% of the 16.6 million voters who cast ballots approved the constitution. The local media has reported comparable results to the Brotherhood. The state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper said in its English language online version that 16.2 million cast their vote, and the constitution passed with a 63.96%. (More Egypt stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X