Egyptians Abroad Vote in Droves, FJP Favoured in Saudi Arabia
Egyptians abroad have been casting their votes in large numbers, with over 120,000 participating by Sunday evening. Saudi Arabia, home to a significant Egyptian population, saw a quarter of these voters. The Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) appears to be the favoured choice among Egyptians in Saudi Arabia, with preliminary counts suggesting a majority vote for the party.
Voting concluded at midnight on Sunday at Egyptian embassies worldwide, including in Saudi Arabia. The sorting process is currently underway and is expected to be completed by Monday night. This is not the first time the FJP has garnered significant support from Egyptians abroad. In the 2011 parliamentary elections, the party's political wing, Jamaat al-Hurriya wal-Adala, received the most votes from Egyptians living outside Egypt, including those in Saudi Arabia. Preliminary results from this election indicate that the FJP may secure more than 75 percent of the votes from Egyptians in Saudi Arabia. With over 1.2 million Egyptians residing in Saudi Arabia, they are considered the largest expatriate voting bloc.
The high turnout and apparent preference for the FJP among Egyptians in Saudi Arabia suggest a significant influence on the election results. The final vote count and its impact on the political landscape in Egypt are eagerly awaited.
