Upper Egyptians, Copts and Sūfīs will have the final say in the forthcoming election of Egypt’s new president, writes Ahmād ‘Āmir ‘Abd Allāh in an opinion article in al-Ahrām newspaper.
Votes of Upper Egyptians, who form nearly half the voting power and are known to have old deep-rooted loyalty to tribes and clans, could go to the elders in those governorates stretching from Aswan in the south to Giza in the north.
Islamists might have some influence in those governorates but not that strong because tribal loyalty will overcome religious piety after all.
Copts, nearly 8 to 12 million of the total population with a voting power of about six millions, will go for a single candidate. Their voting in favor of a certain candidate, if they are going to go to the polling stations intensively, could be a decisive factor in settling the results of the elections.
Like major families in Upper Egypt in deciding which way the votes should go, the churches and priests could have the same influence on the congregation.
Sūfī orders, up to 76 in number, comprise about 15 million Egyptians as regular members in all governorates nationwide and could have a voting power of more than eight millions. If ever the Sūfīs went to the ballot stations this time, they will definitely tip the scale of a certain candidate. [Ahmad ‘Āmir ‘Abd Allāh, al-Ahrām, April 18, p. 4] Read original text in Arabic
