Supporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy celebrate in Tahrir square after the Brotherhood claimed victory in the presidential vote. June 18, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
Egypt recently carried out its first democratic presidential election in the country’s history. But five days after the vote, the question of who won remains a matter of contention. The contest pitted a former military man who had served in the regime of ousted president Hosni Mubarak against a leader of the regime’s longtime foes, the Muslim Brotherhood.
Most observers believe the most votes went to Mohamed Morsy, the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP). The party claims a 1.2 million vote lead over Ahmed Shafik, the former military man and Mubarak prime minister. Shafik, however, says he has 500,000 more votes than Morsy. And with the official results still pending, the tension is rising as Egyptians wait to find out which candidate—if any—is telling the truth.
The presence of Egypt’s decidedly undemocratic military in its fledgling democratic process has only added to the atmosphere of uncertainty. Shortly after the polls closed on Sunday night, the junta, which has ruled Egypt since Mubarak stepped down, issued a decree that served to dramatically limit the powers of the incoming president. Just a few days before, the country’s constitutional court had moved to dissolve Egypt’s first democratically elected parliament—which had been dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood. And analysts say this latest decree seems tailor made to limit the impact of a Brotherhood win at the polls.
The Islamists have reacted to the pressure with a show of popular force; taking to Cairo’s Tahrir Square every night since, as the country awaits the electoral outcome. So far, the demonstrations have been largely symbolic. But they could turn violent if Shafik is declared the winner—an outcome that the Islamists have already said would be the product of electoral fraud.
Abigail Hauslohner is TIME’s Cairo correspondent.
Yuri Kozyrev is a contract photographer for TIME and was named the 2011 Photographer of the Year in the Pictures of the Year International competition.
Supporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy celebrate in Tahrir square after the Brotherhood claimed victory in the presidential vote. June 18, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEVoters check for their names before casting their votes during the second day of voting in Egypt's presidential election at a polling station in Alexandria. June 17, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgypt's army-backed presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik casts his vote at a polling station in Al-Tagamu al-Khamis, Cairo. June 16, 2012.
Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgyptians supporters of Ahmed Shafik celebrate a premature victory for their presidential candidate in Al-Tagamu al-Khamis, Cairo. June 16, 2012.
Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEGraffiti showing the faces of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak (R), head of the Egyptian ruling military council, Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi (2nd R) former Secretary General of the Arab League Amr Mussa (2nd L) and the former prime minister and presidential candidate Ahmed Shafik (L.) June 15, 2012.
Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEPrayer at the Muslim Brotherhood office in Alexandria. June 17, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMESupporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy stand on a bus while celebrating in Tahrir Square. June 18, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMESupporters of Mohamed Morsy celebrate in Tahrir Square after the Brotherhood claimed victory in the presidential vote. June 18, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMESupporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsy celebrate in Tahrir Square after the Brotherhood claimed victory in the presidential vote. June 18, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMESupporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy celebrate in Tahrir square after the Brotherhood claimed victory in the presidential vote. June 18, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMESupporters of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy head to Egypt's parliament in Cairo. June 18, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgyptian supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood celebrate a premature victory for their presidential candidate Mohamed Morsy in Tahrir Square after Egypt's military rulers issued new edicts dissolving Parliament and weakening the presidency. June 19, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgyptian protesters gather in front of the parliament in Cairo as riot police block the entrance to prevent members of the recently-scrapped legistlature from entering. June 19, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgyptians supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood celebrate a premature victory for their presidential candidate Mohamed Morsy in Tahrir Square. The Muslim Brotherhood are claiming victory for Morsy before official results have been announced. June 19, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEAn Egyptian protester looks through concrete blocks surrounding the parliament building. June 19, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgyptian supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood pray as they gather to celebrate a premature victory for their presidential candidate Mohamed Morsy in Tahrir Square. June 19, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgyptian supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood react to speeches at a gathering to celebrate a premature victory for their presidential candidate Mohamed Morsy in Tahrir Square. June 19, 2012.Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIMEEgyptians supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood celebrate a premature victory for their presidential candidate Mohamed Morsy in Tahrir Square. June 19, 2012.
Yuri Kozyrev—NOOR for TIME
