Mostafa Bakry: I Wished Opposition MP Ahmed El-Sharkawy Would Be in the Next Parliament.. Independents Have Become a Force Not to Be Underestimated

Media personality Mostafa Bakry, member of the House of Representatives, stated that the numerical results of the parliamentary elections revealed a new reality: independents have become an "actual force not to be underestimated" in confronting the major parties. He added during the program "Facts and Secrets" broadcast on Sada El-Balad TV on Friday evening, that the Egyptian voter now chooses the independent candidate if party-affiliated figures lose the ability to convince him, emphasizing that the results in many constituencies showed that "seats are not given, but rather seized through the ballot box and the street." He pointed out that the "high numbers" achieved by independents confirm that voters are looking for a trustworthy person who represents their interests, alongside choosing some party figures they find suitable, affirming that the next parliament will witness a "delicate balance" between independents and various party forces. He criticized some negative phenomena such as the use of "political money and transporting voters in buses," saying: "The popular entitlement has become the real criterion for winning, despite undeniable violations, especially political money that takes place in homes, associations, and vehicles, and the scenes are visible, despite many arrests and referrals to prosecution. However, many candidates believe they cannot get votes except by transporting people in buses and paying them before transporting them," according to his statement. He added that the upcoming parliament will be a council "of multiple visions, proposals, and directions," stressing that this is "good for the country," especially since all those who won or are running in the elections are "honest"; none of them conspire against the homeland. He expressed his regret over the loss of opposition MP Ahmed El-Sharkawy in Dakahlia Governorate, saying: "I wished Ahmed El-Sharkawy would be in the next parliament. He is a respectful, patriotic, and committed person. He had views that you might agree or disagree with; however, he enriched the House of Representatives."