LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - About 50 million polling cards have been distributed to polling places. Egyptians living outside of the country cast their votes on June 9. Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik led among Egyptians voting in Lebanon, Tunisia, Greece, Austria and Sierra Leone, according to the commission.

Muslim Brotherhood-backed candidate Mohamed Morsi was leading among expatriates voting from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Jordan, Ethiopia, Yemen, Germany, Russia, Algeria and Sudan, the group said last week.

In dissolving parliament earlier this week, the Supreme Constitutional Court decreed that the rules governing the recent elections were invalid, effectively throwing out a popularly elected parliament in which about half the seats were controlled by Islamists.

The court also invalidated a law that would have barred Shafik from running based on his affiliation with former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, who stepped down after a popular revolt.

Many are concerned, that since Egypt has no constitution to guide the government or clearly define the president's authority, that the nation will once again be plunged into the repressive regimes of old. Analysts say that could prove true if Shafik, a former air force general wins the runoff.
 
The winner of the runoff could be in a powerful position to deal directly with Egypt's military rulers, who are said to be planning to issue an interim constitution while a new permanent document is written and a new parliament elected.

"Electing president in the absence of constitution and parliament is electing an 'emperor' with more powers than deposed dictator. A travesty," Egyptian reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei wrote on an Internet posting. He had considered a presidential run and had called upon the government to postpone the election.

Expressing its displeasure, the Muslim Brotherhood called the rulings a "final forceful and desperate push trying to circumvent the will of the people." The party said Morsi is facing the election with "renewed resolve."

The Muslim Brotherhood on its Web site declared that Morsi is "determined not to abandon the people who placed their confidence and trust in him, or the revolution being brutally aborted, or the pure blood of Martyrs meant to be forgotten."

There are increasing rumors that Egypt's ruling military council is consolidating power and does not intend to hand over authority to a popularly elected civilian government, as it has said it will do.

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