Egypt Parliamentary Poll Expected to Bolster Sissi

Egypt Parliamentary Poll Expected to Bolster¹ Sissi

CAIRO—

Egypt wrapped up its parliamentary election Wednesday, and results are expected to show a win for supporters of President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi.  Some analysts², however, say widespread low turnout, reports of vote buying and other irregularities could later be used as reasons to dissolve the lawmaking body.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi was not running for anything in this election, but he is expected to emerge the winner, with a body of legislators who will support him and the roughly 200 laws he has passed by decree.

Despite low turnout, election workers say they are excited because the country has been without a parliament for about three years.

“I love my homeland. I love Egypt. I hope the right candidate will win. I hope all the candidates will win, including myself,” said Jihan Saeed, an election worker in the capital, Cairo.

Some observers said Egypt’s elections were marred³ by vote buying, officials directing voters as well as marked by turnout that appeared to be the lowest since before the 2011 ouster of Hosni Mubarak.

"Some of the candidates are trying to win votes with bribes⁴, and it is changing which candidates they are voting for,” said lawyer Sameh Eldeep.

Other observers said vote buying in Egypt is so common these days, it functions like a large business.

"Buying votes has become like the stock market.  The morning opens with one price and in the afternoon it's a higher price.  The highest prices are just before the polling stations close,” said Essam Azmy, an election monitor.

Egypt’s last parliament was dissolved in 2012 and observers say the irregularities at the polls could later be used to break up the nearly 600-member body.

The incoming parliament is the first elected since the adoption⁵ last year of a new constitution that empowers lawmakers to impeach⁶ a president or call for early elections.  

The new parliament is expected to start work next month.

1 bolster   

n.枕垫；v.支持，鼓励

参考例句：

• The high interest rates helped to bolster up the economy.高利率使经济更稳健。
• He tried to bolster up their morale.他尽力鼓舞他们的士气。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。

4 bribes   

n.贿赂( bribe的名词复数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂v.贿赂( bribe的第三人称单数 )；向（某人）行贿，贿赂

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• corrupt officials accepting bribes 接受贿赂的贪官污吏

5 adoption   

n.采用，采纳，通过；收养

参考例句：

• An adoption agency had sent the boys to two different families.一个收养机构把他们送给两个不同的家庭。
• The adoption of this policy would relieve them of a tremendous burden.采取这一政策会给他们解除一个巨大的负担。

6 impeach   

v.弹劾；检举

参考例句：

• We must impeach the judge for taking bribes.我们一定要检举法官收受贿赂。
• The committee decided to impeach the President.委员会决定弹劾总统。