A Surprise in Egypt

Democracy makes inroads in Egypt, but it doesn't have Washington's preferred results

The Bush Administration's Arab democracy campaign is helping bring change to Egypt, if not quite the sort Washington is after. The fundamentalist Muslim Brotherhood, which strongly opposes U.S. intervention in Iraq and support for Israel, won 76 seats in the first two rounds of parliamentary elections and could gain a total of 100 once the final vote is completed this week. Says Abdel Monem Said of Cairo's Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies: "Everyone is surprised, perhaps even the Brotherhood."

President Hosni Mubarak's ruling National Democratic Party is still expected to wind up with nearly 80% of the Parliament's...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!