Egypt: The dynamics of the Egyptian election

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzing the political and economic dynamics of Egypt's first free presidential election following the ousting of Hosni Mubarak, focusing on the candidates, the role of the military, and the absence of a constitution.

• The presidential election features twelve candidates, with three front runners: Amr Moussa, Mohammed Mursi, and Abdelmumein Al Futuh. The choice between these candidates represents a tension between a desire for continuity (Moussa and Al Futuh) and a desire for change (Mursi).
• The incoming president faces significant economic challenges, specifically unemployment, and the necessity of formulating a new constitution. The lack of a constitution prior to the election creates risks of power abuse or the potential for the president to revert to the style of presidency used by Hosni Mubarak to ensure stability.
• The Egyptian military is deeply integrated into both the economy and the political system, making it a critical factor in the election's success. A victory for Amr Moussa might maintain the status quo where the military controls its own budget, while a victory for Mohammed Mursi could exacerbate tensions between the military and the Muslim Brotherhood.
• International and regional powers have distinct interests in the election outcome: the United States may support the military if the Muslim Brotherhood wins, Qatar is viewed as a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood, and Saudi Arabia may support Amr Moussa to ensure political continuity.

APA

Abderrahmane, A. (n.d.). Egypt: The dynamics of the Egyptian election. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/research/publication-archives/cpra-daily-briefing/egypt-the-dynamics-of-the-egyptian-election

Chicago

Abderrahmane, Abdelkader. Egypt: The dynamics of the Egyptian election. Institute for Security Studies, n.d. https://issafrica.org/research/publication-archives/cpra-daily-briefing/egypt-the-dynamics-of-the-egyptian-election.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Abderrahmane |first1=Abdelkader |title=Egypt: The dynamics of the Egyptian election |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |url=https://issafrica.org/research/publication-archives/cpra-daily-briefing/egypt-the-dynamics-of-the-egyptian-election |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{abderrahmanendegypt, author = {Abderrahmane, Abdelkader}, title = {{Egypt: The dynamics of the Egyptian election}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.org/research/publication-archives/cpra-daily-briefing/egypt-the-dynamics-of-the-egyptian-election}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }