CAIRO: Nine days after ending the sit-in at MOPCO petrochemicals company, Damietta’s residents queued outside polling stations to vote for their representative in parliament.
"It’s a lovely feeling to know you can vote freely without any fear," said Rehab Adel, 34, outside El-Louzi school in Sorour Square where she cast her vote for the first time.
"I’m so proud of the elections in Damietta this year, there are no thugs or bribes and our vote actually counts," said microbus driver Walid Hegazy.
Many of the voters said that the candidates’ stance towards resolving the dilemma surrounding MOPCO petrochemicals was a key factor affecting their vote.
Locals have demanded the shutdown of the factory, which they say is “deadly and hazardous” to residents, marine life, as well as agricultural.
Hegazy, who lives in El-Senania area near the factory, said that this factory “took from the people of Damietta without giving anything back in return.”
"No one from Damietta works in this factory and it consumes most of our water supply while polluting everything surrounding it," he told Daily News Egypt.
On Nov.13, one protester was killed and 11 injured in the military’s crackdown on the sit-in which blocked the city’s main port.
The Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing, was an essential member of a committee responsible for coordinating with the Cabinet to end the problems caused by MOPCO petrochemicals.
Spokesperson of the FJP in Damietta’s constituency El-Bahy Gad said that the committee recommended the shutdown of the factory for nine months pending the implementation of 13 environment compliance measures by the company. The recommendation was made in August, however the factory didn’t comply, sparking the week sit-in held earlier this month.
Five of the 8-member committee are leading members of the FJP.
FJP candidate on the top of their list in Damietta, Saber Abdel Sadeq, said the party was against the open sit-in which cost the country grave losses.
"We support protests that don’t cut off roads and prevent people from getting to their jobs and [affect their] livelihoods," Abdel Sadeq said.
Samar El-Roos, 23, who endured the long queues despite being eight months pregnant to cast her vote for the FJP, agreed with their stance on the issue.
"FJP’s stance was reasonable and there was no reason to paralyze the whole city for this company," she said.
However, others believed that the Salafi Al-Nour Party’s support of the sit-in was more effective in shutting down MOPCO.
"Al-Nour supported the protesters against this company which was killing our people," said Nawara Mohamed, 30.
Essam Sultan, running as a leading candidate for Al-Wasat Party in Damietta also played a leading role in shutting down the Egyptian-Canadian owned factory.
Sultan, a lawyer, represented the protesters of Damietta in their legal fights against the factory which started in 2008.
Others however downplayed the controversy surrounding MOBCO petrochemicals saying it had no effect on their vote.
"I felt safe voting for the FJP despite their stance towards the company and the protests," said Rehab Adel.
Parties face off in Damietta
The competition was fierce between the FJP and Al-Nour Party in Damietta. However in downtown, the more moderate Al-Wasat Party managed to gain some ground.
On the other hand, more liberal lists like the Egyptian Bloc, spearheaded by the Free Egyptians Party, didn’t garner much support.
"We are conservative religious people who want to be represented by those who abide by Islamic jurisprudence," said Mohamed who voted for Al-Nour Party.
Mohamed criticized the FJP, saying it wasn’t "religious enough."
"FJP announced that they want a civil state, but we want Egypt to be an Islamic state…that’s who we are," she added.
Hegazy agreed saying that his neighborhood, El-Senania, was dominated by Salafis who enjoyed great support from the people.
"If anyone is seen holding an FJP flyer or caught voting for them in my neighborhood, he’d be torn to pieces," he said.
Mohamed Riyali, 33 and El-Roos described Islamic parties as "parties who can relate to the Damietta society and its problems." They both voted for the FJP saying they their experience combined both religion and politics
On his part, Ali Mohamed described liberal parties, as anti-Islam "fanatics."
"We want nothing to do with them" he said. He cast his vote for Al-Wasat party.
"I like their candidate Essam Sultan and believe that he would best serve the people of Damietta," he added.
El-Bahy said the Brotherhood served the people of Damietta for years as members of parliament and local councils, as opposed to the Salafis.
El-Hegazy voiced a different opinion saying that once the Brotherhood won a seat in parliament, they served only themselves.
Al-Nour Party was established following the ouster of Hosni Mubarak. Under Mubarak’s reign, the Salafis suffered oppression and were systematically detained and tortured by security forces.
The FJP and Al-Nour exchanged accusations of violating campaign laws and pressuring residents to vote in their favor.
El-Bahy accused Al-Nour of using religion to coerce people into voting in their favor by forcing people to swear in the name of Allah that they would vote for them before entering polling stations, while others convinced residents that voting for Al-Nour would best serve Islam.
Yasmine Abdel Gawad, representative of Al-Nour Party in Al-Lozy School, denied such claims, accusing the FJP of breaking campaign laws.
"FJP stood outside polling stations convincing people to vote for them while handing out their lists of candidates," she said.
Flyers promoting candidates for the FJP, Al-Nour and Al-Wasat were seen being handed out outside polling stations.
An FJP booth was set up near Al-Azhar institute where voters were guided to their polling stations based on their ID cards.
Voters told DNE that military officers securing the polling stations pointed them to the FJP booth to assist them, suggesting that both parties are cooperating.
El-Bahy said that all the other parties were setting up booths, although none were reported.
He added that two polling stations were closed in Mit Ghaleb in Damietta, due to a scuffle between Al-Nour and the Free Egyptians parties. However the Free Egyptians denied the claims.
Security
Security was heavy around polling stations with some armored trucks parked outside schools.
Police forces seemed to be absent, save for a few plain-clothed officers.
"We hate the police here and having them guard the schools would only cause trouble and they know that," Hegazy said.
Inside a polling station in Damietta. (Daily News Egypt Photo / By Heba Fahmy)
