Egypt: Turnout 62% As 12 Ministers Keep Portfolios

The head of Egypt’s election commission said 62 percent of eligible voters turned out for the first round of parliamentary elections. According to the AP, Abdel-Mooaez Ibrahim called the figure “the highest since the time of pharaohs.”

More than 13 million voters cast ballots in Monday and Tuesday’s vote, the first of three rounds for the lower house. Three other rounds lasting until march will elect the less powerful upper house.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s new Prime Minister Kamal al-Ganzouri on Friday started to name his team, retaining several ministers from the previous government including Kamel Amr, the foreign affairs minister, a report said. Information Minister Osama Heikal will also keep his portfolio, the official MENA news agency reported.

The final cabinet is to be announced on Saturday, according to state television.