At least 35 people were killed and many were injured in the course of events that spread across the country. Thousands were poisoned due to gas attacks.

Many reasons can be listed as the causes of these events. However, the first reason on this list is certainly the endeavors of the army not to lose the power currently in its hands.

The fact that the army spoke unequivocally regarding the date of the presidential elections and also indicated it had certain intentions regarding the draft constitution that was released at the beginning of the month led people to ask, “Is the former regime still alive?”

It marks a great achievement by the protestors that the army has given for the first time an exact time, namely June 2012, for the presidential elections; however, some rumors state they will be stalled until 2013.

However, these latest events clearly signify that the country is experiencing a very critical period and it will be a while before Egypt restores order.

The vote of the public at the polls in this critical period will be of vital importance in terms of the stability of the country. Each vote will pay off, as each vote will bolster stability for Egyptians.

However, in the hours this article was being written, it was still unclear whether the elections were going to be held or not. Even though the ruling Military High Council stated that the elections were going to be held, the extent of ongoing protests may harm the elections.

While the activists targeting the army continue their protests, how the security of ballot boxes will be maintained during the elections is in question.

Additionally, under these circumstances it seems inevitable that some groups may attempt to rig the votes given to the Muslim Brotherhood, which is said to have maintained a high approval rating for a long time, and to other Islamic groups.

Claiming that the country is being dragged into protests again in order to postpone the elections, parties with an Islamic inclination refrained from joining the protests this time.

On the other hand, since the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafi groups negotiated with the army, liberal parties and left-wing parties criticize them for tolerating non-democratic practices on the part of the ruling council in order to become the rulers of the country.

In short, although groups consisting of people from all sides, from the most extreme left-wing to the most extreme right-wing, had filled Tahrir Square together against Mubarak, they now doubt each other. We are witnessing a social polarization in Egypt that resembles the polarization still existent in Turkey.

Many parties participating in the elections are almost identical to each other. This evaluation is valid for the left wing, right wing and also parties with an Islamic affiliation.

It is believed that the Democratic Alliance, consisting of 11 parties led by the Muslim Brotherhood’s own Freedom and Justice Party, will win the elections. This alliance mostly consists of more liberal and nationalist parties. A counter-alliance, the Egyptian Bloc, which is supported by renowned billionaire Egyptian businessman Najib Sawiris, consists mostly of liberal parties, leftist parties and parties with a communist inclination.

Salafists and the Islamic Jihad movement will fight in the elections under the umbrella of the Al-Nour Party. Many parties, especially Wafd — the oldest party in the country and which is not a member of either alliance — will try their luck on their own in the elections.

The electoral system is very confusing, considering the fact that 40 percent of voters are illiterate. Voters will vote separately for the party candidates but also for individual candidates who will try to enter Parliament through the use of a quota allocated for the lower house. This quota will make up one-third of Parliament.

The elections will be held at three levels and parties will gain seats in Parliament in accordance with the percentage of votes they receive. As for individual candidates, if an independent candidate cannot gain 50 percent of the votes in his district, the winner will be decided in a face-off a week later.

According to electoral law, which has existed since the time of Jamal Abdul Nasir, Parliament should be shared by workers/villagers and professionals.

The elections, which will be held under the shadow of heated debates and the latest protest breakout, will serve as a thermometer to measure the achievements of the Arab Spring. If Egypt, after Tunisia, successfully holds uncorrupted elections, the rumor that the spring has turned into autumn, which is being uttered more frequently with regards to the situation of the Arab world in the recent months, will come to an end.