The apparent results of Egypt’s first free presidential vote have left many of the young activists who led the country’s 2011 uprising dismayed and despondent, facing deeply unpalatable options. Unofficial results show Muslim Brotherhood candidate Muhammad Morsi set for a runoff against Ahmed Shafiq, the last prime minister to serve under ousted dictator Hosni Mubarak. Activists like Baho Bakhsh and others are trying to move past their shock and disappointment and are unanimous in their rejection of Shafiq, who they see as the emblem of all they worked to overthrow. “Definitely, I’m not voting for Ahmed Shafiq, he’s a killer, he’s a military man, he’s oppressive,” Bakhsh said.
The Brotherhood has already started reaching out to failed candidates including third-placed Nasserist Hamdeen Sabbahi and Islamist Abdel Moneim Abouel Fotouh, who had left the organisation to run for president. Observers have speculated that the group could offer the vice presidency or the prime minister’s office to Sabbahi or Abouel Fotouh, but Bakhsh said written guarantees were more important.