CAIRO — The irony of Egypt’s successful parliamentary vote is that with every vote cast, chances dimmed for Tahrir Square protesters’ demand for immediate civilian rule.
The unexpectedly high turnout and relatively smooth balloting that characterized the two days of voting that ended Tuesday illustrated what surveys had shown for months: The majority of Egyptians prefer speedy elections to disruptive protests in the military-run transitional period.
The winners of the first round of voting won’t be known until today at the earliest. But the losers were obvious, as hundreds of thousands of voters turned out for the second day of voting in the staggered parliamentary elections: the Tahrir diehards, who stewed under their flimsy tents and plastic tarps. Their numbers had dwindled, with stalwart activists replaced by street peddlers and bored young bullies. Female revolutionaries complained that they no longer felt safe at the camp.
The tension exploded after dark Tuesday in new clashes that left 59 people injured, according to the Health Ministry. Officials said the battle erupted when protesters tried to force out street vendors who had overtaken the square to sell roasted corn, revolution souvenirs, cotton candy and sugary tea. The peddlers returned with backup, including thugs with Molotov cocktails, stones and shotguns.
The public’s tacit endorsement of the ruling generals — the archenemies of the Tahrir camp — forced the dejected protesters to admit that their revolution has faltered.
“People don’t understand that we are protesting for the whole country, for those who were killed by both army and police forces last week,” said Shimaa Salah, 27. “How can I vote in elections run by those who killed us less than 10 days ago?”
