Egypt’s presidential election, set to be the freest it has ever had, began for citizens abroad on May 11 after a caustic televised debate between two candidates. Egyptians who overthrew President Hosni Mubarak as uprisings swept the Arab world last year are savouring the spectacle of politicians competing for their votes and the streets are abuzz with argument over who is the best man to tackle poverty and corruption and uphold their new-found freedoms. With no obvious winner for now, the fewer than 1 million expatriates registered to vote in consulates between May 11 and 17 may help swing the election. Recent polls suggest the race is wide open, with many citizens yet to make up their minds.
Expatriates who have registered to vote are a minority among the 6 to 8 million Egyptians who live abroad, mostly in Europe, North America and Gulf Arab states, according to official figures cited by local media.