This is how the Egyptian presidential elections in Egypt reached their inevitable end, i.e. with the competition over the presidency during the run-off being limited to the Muslim Brotherhood group and the military. The signs of this conclusion had surfaced ever since the Islamists in general achieved their great electoral victory during the legislative elections, and after the emergence of the tendency to exploit this victory to control all the other institutions. Indeed, ever since the Islamists won the majority of the seats in parliament, it has become clear they will try to use that victory, whether in the constituent assembly or in the battle to topple the government of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces and push an Islamist to its premiership. It also appeared that these intentions were not to the liking of the military, which started placing obstacles before this total Islamist domination, and resorted to the administrative judicial authority to hinder the MB's wishes. Today, after the competition over the presidency became limited to the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood, Muhammad Morsi, and the candidate of the military, General Ahmed Shafik, the transitional phase has ended with this political standoff. This is especially valid since the possibilities of seeing a deal between the group and the military have greatly receded during the past weeks, after the MB announced its determination to curb this institution's role through the constitution. This runs contrary to the army's aspirations to remain in control over higher national interests, and what this means in terms of the roles it plays on all levels. The MB and those who support it will try to focus on the ties between candidate Shafik, the former regime and the injustices it committed on the domestic arena. They will also warn against the disbanded National Party's monopolization of power once again, and will carry out mobilization under the slogan of protecting the revolution and its gains. Nonetheless, they will not be able to offer guarantees over the way they will manage the country's affairs, or earn Arab and international support over Egypt's former position on the regional level. In other words, outside the Islamic movements, the MB might not find clear support in favor of its project, at a time when the military is considered to be a guarantor for the continuation of the previous policy at the level of Arab relations, the relations with the United States and especially the peace treaty with Israel. Despite the announcement made by the members of the SCAF regarding their neutrality, the military remains concerned about the fate of its role and the continuation of this role via a president it trusts. On the other hand, this institution remains the main side concerned about the peace process and its protection, and the most influenced by the international positions that are supporting it. Until the run-off on June 16 and 17, many calculations will be made and mobilization will reach its peak. Therefore, there will be talk about the distribution of the votes granted to the other candidates between Shafik and Morsi, as well as about the possible formation of a third power seeking reassurances from the candidates. Polarization will also surface within the Islamist ranks themselves, between those supporting the MB, those abstaining from voting, and those backing up the military, while the same will be witnessed within the civil, liberal and leftist blocs. As to the Coptic votes, they will naturally go to the military which ought to appease the Copts' fears over the arrival of the Islamists to all the positions in the state. It is certain that in this conflict, the military holds effective tools to guarantee the victory of its candidate (representative) in the presidential race. It is, alongside the MB, an organized side with numerous branches within Egyptian society and capable of carrying out popular mobilization. And while the Egyptian generals are stressing the integrity of the process, the chances of their candidate rely on the ability to provide him with a large bloc of voters that is no less important than that of the MB, far away from the blatant rigging seen in the past.
