Ambassadors note low turnout in election run-offs abroad

Monday 30-11-2015 01:54 PM
Ambassadors note low turnout in election run-offs abroad

An Egyptian woman living abroad casting her vote in the first phase of the 2015 parliamentary elections, on Oct 18, 2015. REUTERS/

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CAIRO, Nov. 30 (Aswat Masriya) -  Egypt's ambassadors in several countries noted Monday morning the low turnout in run-offs of the second and final phase of Egypt's parliamentary elections abroad, which ends tomorrow.

Egypt's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Nasser Hamdy called on Egyptians to head to the polls, expecting a hike in numbers later in the day, compared to the "below average" turnout observed so far.  

Similarly in Germany, Egypt's ambassador Badr Abdel Atty marked the low turnout with expectations of more voters to show up later.

In Istanbul, Egyptian consul Bassam Rady said that the situation is "calm", but that the participation is weak because it's a working day. He added that Turkish authorities fully secured the consulate and that there are no obstacles barring voters who wish to participate.

The participation of Egyptians in the UAE was "average", said Wael Gad, Egypt's ambassador to the Gulf country, who also expects more people to head to the polls later in the day.

The first round of the second phase abroad saw over 37,100 voters turn up, an increase of about 22 percent from the first phase, when just over 30,000 cast their votes.

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